Page 9 - Spring World of Welding - HIWT

Missouri welding instructor wins Q & A
Q & A

Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize
Q & A
Missouri welding instructor wins
for Teaching Excellence
Missouri welding instructor wins
Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize

for Teaching Excellence
Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize
6 questions with Brent Trankler of Sikeston
Career and Technology Center, Sikeston, Mo.
for Teaching Excellence
6 questions with Brent Trankler of Sikeston

Career and Technology Center, Sikeston, Mo.
6 questions with Brent Trankler of Sikeston
By Amanda Carlson Trankler won first place in the 2019 Harbor
Career and Technology Center, Sikeston, Mo.
Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excel-
For many individuals, teaching is a calling. It’s not a lence, which recognizes extraordinary public high
profession for anyone seeking fame and fortune and
By Amanda Carlson Trankler won first place in the 2019 Harbor
school skilled trades teachers and programs. The
it requires hard work, sacrifice, patience, and a lot of Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excel-
program, which began in 2017, awards $1 million to
For many individuals, teaching is a calling. It’s not a lence, which recognizes extraordinary public high
programs around the nation each year. As first-place
juggling. The rewards usually aren’t quantifiable.
profession for anyone seeking fame and fortune and
Trankler won first place in the 2019 Harbor
By Amanda Carlson school skilled trades teachers and programs. The
Brent Trankler felt the pull to become a welding
winner, Trankler and SCTC received $100,000—
program, which began in 2017, awards $1 million to
it requires hard work, sacrifice, patience, and a lot of Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excel-
$70,000 going to the school and $30,000 going to
teacher almost immediately. He learned how to weld
programs around the nation each year. As first-place
juggling. The rewards usually aren’t quantifiable.
For many individuals, teaching is a calling. It’s not a lence, which recognizes extraordinary public high
Trankler.
while working as a mechanic in the Army. Once his
Brent Trankler felt the pull to become a welding
winner, Trankler and SCTC received $100,000—
profession for anyone seeking fame and fortune and school skilled trades teachers and programs. The
The WELDER caught up with Trankler to talk
service was complete, he worked in maintenance
teacher almost immediately. He learned how to weld
$70,000 going to the school and $30,000 going to
it requires hard work, sacrifice, patience, and a lot of program, which began in 2017, awards $1 million to
about the honor, his program, and how he plans to
full time while he took classes to earn a bachelor’s
Trankler.
while working as a mechanic in the Army. Once his
juggling. The rewards usually aren’t quantifiable. programs around the nation each year. As first-place
use the prize money.
degree in industrial technology.
The WELDER caught up with Trankler to talk
service was complete, he worked in maintenance winner, Trankler and SCTC received $100,000—
Brent Trankler felt the pull to become a welding
Never one to stop learning, Trankler pursued a
about the honor, his program, and how he plans to
full time while he took classes to earn a bachelor’s
teacher almost immediately. He learned how to weld $70,000 going to the school and $30,000 going to
second bachelor’s degree in industrial arts. That’s
degree in industrial technology.
use the prize money.
while working as a mechanic in the Army. Once his Trankler.
TW: Can you tell me a little bit about your
where he discovered teaching.
Never one to stop learning, Trankler pursued a
service was complete, he worked in maintenance The WELDER caught up with Trankler to talk
welding program?
second bachelor’s degree in industrial arts. That’s
full time while he took classes to earn a bachelor’s TW: Can you tell me a little bit about your
“I worked second shift so I could student-teach about the honor, his program, and how he plans to
Trankler: I have roughly 25 kids per block, or 25
where he discovered teaching.
during the day. I did that just to have teaching in
degree in industrial technology. use the prize money.
welding program?
“I worked second shift so I could student-teach
Never one to stop learning, Trankler pursued a
my back pocket as a Plan B, but it ended up being kids an hour. We run in three-hour blocks, and then I
during the day. I did that just to have teaching in
Trankler: I have roughly 25 kids per block, or 25
second bachelor’s degree in industrial arts. That’s TW: Can you tell me a little bit about your
my Plan A. I’ve always been a tinkerer at heart, so
have an advisory period which is separate from all of
my back pocket as a Plan B, but it ended up being
where he discovered teaching. kids an hour. We run in three-hour blocks, and then I
my first master’s degree is a Master of Science with
that. The lab itself has 27 operational booths.
my Plan A. I’ve always been a tinkerer at heart, so welding program?
“I worked second shift so I could student-teach
have an advisory period which is separate from all of
We’ve done the AWS SENSE program for the
an emphasis on industrial education. Then I got
my first master’s degree is a Master of Science with
during the day. I did that just to have teaching in Trankler: I have roughly 25 kids per block, or 25
that. The lab itself has 27 operational booths.
another master’s degree in administration with the
last eight or nine years. We want students to get
an emphasis on industrial education. Then I got
my back pocket as a Plan B, but it ended up being kids an hour. We run in three-hour blocks, and then I
We’ve done the AWS SENSE program for the
through all of the D1.1 structural standard. My grand
goal of one day being a career-ed director,” Trankler
another master’s degree in administration with the
my Plan A. I’ve always been a tinkerer at heart, so have an advisory period which is separate from all of
last eight or nine years. We want students to get
explained.
goal is for them to do all of the curriculum for the
goal of one day being a career-ed director,” Trankler
my first master’s degree is a Master of Science with that. The lab itself has 27 operational booths.
through all of the D1.1 structural standard. My grand
Now as welding instructor at Sikeston Career and
American Petroleum Institute (API) specification for
explained.
an emphasis on industrial education. Then I got goal is for them to do all of the curriculum for the
We’ve done the AWS SENSE program for the
Technology Center (SCTC), Sikeston, Mo., he is liv-
pipe, so that when they graduate they can go the
Now as welding instructor at Sikeston Career and
American Petroleum Institute (API) specification for
another master’s degree in administration with the last eight or nine years. We want students to get
ing his dream of giving back.
structural or the pipe route. My class allows each
Technology Center (SCTC), Sikeston, Mo., he is liv-
goal of one day being a career-ed director,” Trankler through all of the D1.1 structural standard. My grand
pipe, so that when they graduate they can go the
“Growing up, the people who mentored me
student to set their own pace. I want the kids to
ing his dream of giving back.
explained. goal is for them to do all of the curriculum for the
structural or the pipe route. My class allows each
“Growing up, the people who mentored me
get good at what they’re doing before they move
Now as welding instructor at Sikeston Career and
made a significant impact on my life. I’m almost 38 student to set their own pace. I want the kids to
American Petroleum Institute (API) specification for
made a significant impact on my life. I’m almost 38
on, so some don’t finish all of the pipe stuff, but I
Technology Center (SCTC), Sikeston, Mo., he is liv- get good at what they’re doing before they move
years old and I can still look back on those people pipe, so that when they graduate they can go the
years old and I can still look back on those people
don’t want to hold the others back who are excelling
who steered me in the right direction and showed
ing his dream of giving back. structural or the pipe route. My class allows each
on, so some don’t finish all of the pipe stuff, but I
who steered me in the right direction and showed don’t want to hold the others back who are excelling
“Growing up, the people who mentored me
me a path that I never even knew existed. It’s good student to set their own pace. I want the kids to
through it.
me a path that I never even knew existed. It’s good
made a significant impact on my life. I’m almost 38 get good at what they’re doing before they move
through it.
The students learn every welding process. I have
to be able to give back,” Trankler added.
to be able to give back,” Trankler added.
The students learn every welding process. I have
years old and I can still look back on those people on, so some don’t finish all of the pipe stuff, but I
around $350,000 of equipment in the lab, so we’ve
And now, thanks to the philanthropic foundation
And now, thanks to the philanthropic foundation
around $350,000 of equipment in the lab, so we’ve
who steered me in the right direction and showed don’t want to hold the others back who are excelling
been really blessed. Last year I won the AWS work-
of Harbor Freight Tools founder Eric Smidt, giving
of Harbor Freight Tools founder Eric Smidt, giving
me a path that I never even knew existed. It’s good through it.
been really blessed. Last year I won the AWS work-
force development grant, which allowed us to add
back just got a little easier.
back just got a little easier.
to be able to give back,” Trankler added. force development grant, which allowed us to add
The students learn every welding process. I have
And now, thanks to the philanthropic foundation around $350,000 of equipment in the lab, so we’ve
of Harbor Freight Tools founder Eric Smidt, giving been really blessed. Last year I won the AWS work-
www.welding.org - 9 - 2020 SPRING ISSUE
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back just got a little easier. force development grant, which allowed us to add