South Garland High School (SGHS) is championing the inclusion of female students in its welding program, spearheaded by instructor Jon Greuel. The school’s dedicated efforts toward gender equity in welding have led to a notable increase in female student participation. SGHS welding instructor Jon Greuel has been trying to recruit female students into the welding program.
At the end of the 2017 school year, GISD board member and current President Linda Griffin attended a ceremony to celebrate SGHS students who passed welding certifications. She asked, “Where are all the female welders?”
There wasn’t a single female student in the entire program.
Simply asking about equal representation became the impetus and vision to recruit and retain female students. The problem that instructor Jon Greuel faced was when there were only one or two female students per class; they didn’t want to stay in the program because they were alone and uncomfortable.
In 2018, Jon helped launch the Welding Student Chapter, an American Welding Society (AWS) affiliate, at SGHS. The organization aims to give female students leadership opportunities and form an organization where they can see and be seen. The chapter identifies ways to improve the program and be more inclusive. They were instrumental in organizing a dedicated female restroom that the student chapter outfits as needed. The changing room has also been improved to make sure students feel comfortable.
The leadership training is now formalized, with all female students attending the advisory period in the welding classroom. Students are taught leadership concepts such as vision, organization, task management and delegation. Students practice leading within a manufacturing environment that emphasizes practical results.
The student chapter runs a storefront that produces custom door stops, roses, nameplates, small welding repair jobs, and custom scrap metal art. This fundraiser helps the student chapter fund projects for the program. The student chapter storefront dove-tails into the Practicum in Manufacturing class, where three out of four students are female.
Jon applied for classroom grants through the Garland Education Foundation (GEF) to support the girls. Through two different $1,000 grants, the girls have purchased steel to support their storefront projects. Another grant was awarded to buy t-shirts, significantly increasing esprit de corps! Students reveled in their shared identity as welders at SGHS.
Another issue that a GEF grant solved for the girls was the fit of the welding jackets.
Jon was awarded a classroom grant for personal protective equipment (PPE) for females. Thanks to Jon’s recruitment success, the number of girls has grown beyond the number of jackets awarded.
“The jackets are very popular,” says Jon. “Along with more jackets, gloves, and other PPE items are needed to make the girls feel protected and comfortable.”
Providing leadership opportunities for girls and employment for all, the student chapter reduces barriers by identifying logistical and emotional obstacles to success and allows camaraderie to sustain female enrollment. The student chapter provides the energy, innovation, leadership and hope that supports female student enrollment.
This year, the Welding Student Chapter is led by 11th grader Alisson Castaneda. As seen in the above picture, Alisson plans to become a professional welder welding and grinding on the band equipment repair job.
A generous grant from GEF made the black apron and blue welding jacket possible.
Today, there are 29 female welding students. They make up 18% of all SGHS welding students, a 10% increase from last year. Jon’s successes extend to the welding program in general, and last year, a second welding teacher was hired by SGHS as the program continues to expand. His commitment to the female manufacturing sector is no more apparent than when Ms. Aurora Sandoval joined the faculty.
Ms. Sandoval is representative of the students Jon is trying to recruit: Hispanic, Spanish-speaking and female. Jon said, “The female students were delighted when they realized who their teacher would be.”
Information and photo provided by Garland ISD.