At the Park

Welding Woes

Delaney Brado, Staff Writer

March 6, 2025

The welding tools sit in the dust as the program awaits a qualified professional to take on the program.

The Welding Program is an important CTE program at Wheeling Park High School, and it has been waiting for a qualified teacher for almost a month.

Gia Blacker is a senior and a second year student in the welding program. She has had two teachers in that time and feels like she has missed out on learning opportunities.

“It’s hard not having a certified teacher because the first years can’t learn what they need to and the second years can’t be properly certified,” said Blacker.

This program benefits the school and students by allowing students to get what they need to succeed in the welding workforce. Students can graduate from high school with welding certification and begin in the field immediately.

Caroline Dillon, the CTE Department Chair, says she has no doubt Wheeling park will have troubles finding a teacher.

“Our Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director, Mr. Jack Doyle, has been working with our principal and central office administrators to ensure that we do just that. It’s not always easy to find someone to teach our CTE classes as our teachers come straight from the industry in which they specialize. Most of the time the people who decide to leave their field and turn to education take huge pay cuts,” said Dillon.

The pay difference between a professional welder and a teacher is a huge culprit to the difficulty in finding a qualified professional for the job. However, teachers earn respectable incomes and Ohio County School’s deep value of CTE are positive indicators that the position will be filled.

Dillon continued that the program is a benefit to Wheeling Park and the welding students.

“Our welding program, just like our other CTE programs produce students who are job ready – day one! We are literally preparing our students to enter the workforce – in many programs – directly out of high school. Welding is one of those examples. Our welders can be certified in both plate and pipe welding through the courses offered. Students who complete the welding program can get jobs as pipe fitters, pipeline workers, and other welding jobs. Our welding students who choose to pursue further education can reduce their time in college by up to a year because of the experience they garner in our welding program,” said Dillon.

“My favorite part of the program is hands-on learning and you can actually do it.” said Blacker. She loves the program and is excited to go straight into the workforce after graduation.

Donate to The Park Press

$300

$500

Contributed

Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Wheeling Park High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

About the Contributors

Delaney Brado, Staff Writer

Delaney Brado is in 12th grade and is a first year writer for The Park Press.Her first experience with writing was in middle school when she had to write about the Holocaust. She immediately liked writing and it came easily to her. On the weekends, Delaney listens to Zach Bryan, takes walks around Warwood, and binges reality tv. Her favorites include: Vanderpump Rules, Teen Mom, The Challenge, and Survivor. She is interested in psychology,and has taken psychology with Mr Doyle. Delaney wants to pursue a career in psychology in either counseling or social work after graduation.

London Miller, Assistant Designer

London Miller is a 16 year old junior at Wheeling Park High School. This is her first year in journalism and her third year in the Broadcasting Technology Program. She finds pleasure in camera work, writing and editing. When she is not working with these things, you will find her reading, putting outfits together, listening to 80s music or spending time with her family. Ever since London was 8 years old, she has had a passion for photography. She has a whole wall full of pictures that she has taken throughout the years. When she was in 8th grade and went through what Wheeling Park had to offer, a class that included camera work was first on her list. London is a dedicated student and cares deeply about her school work. She has accomplished graduating from Bridge Street Middle School with high honors and received high honors for her academic ability at Wheeling Park. After she graduates high school, she wants to become a photojournalist. She is really looking forward to her first year working with the Park Press.