La Mirada High School
Welding
In its third year, the Skilled Trades Summers program brings together a high-performing team of instructors – led by Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence Winner, Brent Tuttle – and student mentors.
Upper-class high school students train in advanced welding skills and leadership and then become instructors and mentors to younger high school and middle school students teaching high-quality welding skills – using both “hands-on” and virtual welding tools.
This summer students built barbeques, skateboards, customized cutting boards, and personalized lamps.
La Mirada High School
Middle and High School Students Learn Welding, Auto Restoration & Skilled Trades Fundamentals
Program Highlights
Program Snapshot
- Partner Since: 2022
- Service Area: La Mirada
- Skilled Trade: Welding & Auto Restoration
- 2026 Enrollment: 208 total, 44 high school
- Program Length: two-six weeks, 40-120 hours
Unique Program Components
- This innovative welding program is led by Mr. Brent Tuttle, a 2020 winner of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence.
- Upper-class high school students train in advanced welding skills and become instructors and mentors to the beginner students.
- Students design and build complex and intricate projects such as barbeques, skateboards and lamps.
- Middle school students and their families participate in hands-on skilled trades mobile training workshops which has become a feeder to the skilled trades pathways offered at LMHS during the school year.
- In 2026, students will complete a community impact project and introduce auto restoration for 12 students from LMHS and Norwalk High School.
About La Mirada High School
Comprehensive PUBLIC High School
La Mirada High School is part of the La Mirada-Norwalk Unified High School District. LMHS has a population of over 1,700 students and offers nine different Career Technical Education pathways during the school year including Welding & Engineering.
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La Mirada High School
“It’s awesome saying that ‘I can do this’ even though not many girls think they can… it pushes me to continue to be better and it makes me want to work hard in life.”
Nataliah Castro, 2023 LMHS Student