“To me, the most fulfilling aspect of teaching is seeing a student reach their full potential. I take great pride in helping my students discover their talents and abilities, even when they don’t yet see it themselves. When I encounter a student who has a particular talent or skill but lacks the confidence to pursue it, I make it my mission to encourage and motivate them, guide them on the right path, and set them up for success.”
Alex Bechtler teaches manufacturing at Southeast Career Technical Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was first introduced to the trades in high school through a love for construction. After serving for 10 years as a civil engineer and structural craftsman in the United States Air Force, he was inspired by his wife to make a difference as a skilled trades teacher. Bechtler is now the most certified automation instructor in the United States and has trained and certified 55 other instructors from 31 schools in 5 states with over 200 certifications.
Bechtler strives to grow and continuously improve his instruction and evolve his manufacturing program, mirroring the practices of employers. In his four-year program, students work on hands-on projects such as building traffic lights and wiring a flexible manufacturing system. Bechtler motivates and challenges his students to not just learn about the “what” of a project, but to care and deeply think about the “why?” Students are encouraged to troubleshoot and problem solve on their own.
He invites representatives of manufacturing companies to visit and gets advice on how to stay up to date on industry standards. He also asks them for a list of employability skills and the exact brands and models of machines they are using so he can get his students ready for their workplaces. Bechtler’s classroom is now the center for certifying automation and manufacturing and instructors for the state of Nevada.
Notes of Excellence:
- He has established partnerships with close to 20 manufacturing companies, including a TESLA Gigafactory. More than 80 of his students have been hired by a Tesla manufacturing development program.
- In the past seven years, his students have earned 100+ FANUC certifications, 320+ OSHA 10 certifications, and 350 SACA certifications through his advanced manufacturing program.
- Bechtler’s students are offered salaries up to $70k upon graduation, an accomplishment highlighted by local news stations and showcased in a PBS series called “Student Spotlight.”
- Bechtler hosts job networking fairs that are open to students, alumni and students from other programs.