Marcelle and Dan Hurst, Al Bielsky
Red Mountain High School teacher Dan Hurst has a passion for welding, and recently he was honored for his exuberance with a Certificate of Appreciation, from the Mesa Masonic Lodge, at the group’s Teacher Recognition Night.
”I have been a welder all my life,” said Dan. “It started when I was 8 years old, with my father teaching me.” His experience is extensive. Many of his 35 years of welding experience include working on planes for the U.S. Air Force, along with commercial and cargo planes, as an employee of an aerospace company at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Dan has been a teacher at Red Mountain High School for three years now, and while not a novice at instruction, he was new to teaching at the high school level. “Dan is a natural educator,” announced a speaker/presenter at the Masonic Lodge event. “He has taken a welding program in need of rehabilitation, and elevated it to one of the most respected in the state,” he continued.
“Dan’s students are achieving unprecedented certifications, and finding themselves placed in prestigious internships,” the night’s presenter said. “Most telling has been the fact the numbers within the program have grown to the point there is a waiting list for students eager to enter the program.”
Knowing what it takes to be a welder in the real world, Dan said his goal is to create “…well-rounded students who know the industry standards, and represent themselves as the skilled professionals they are.”
Bringing in industry experts to teach is just another way Mesa Public Schools is meeting the needs of its diverse population, while giving every student a chance to shine and find his niche. With Dan Hurst at the helm, watch out. It will be a ride! “Welding has been really good to me,” said Dan. “Now, it’s my time to give back to the community.”
For more information on the welding classes, contact Dan Hurst at Red Mountain High School at www.mpsaz.org.