“My passion lies in empowering students and equipping them with the skills they need to succeed not only as an employee but as a mentor, making teaching skilled trades an immensely rewarding journey.”

Jared Massic teaches Welding at Maple Mountain High School in Spanish Fork, Utah. Growing up the youngest of nine, Massic loved LEGO creations, tinkering, and taking things apart, and he realized early the value of strong mentors. His high school shop teachers inspired him to pursue welding instruction, and he earned a bachelor’s degree in Technology and Engineering Education and a master’s in Technology. Massic continuously hones his skills through teaching and as a Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Welding Educator.

Massic uses project-based learning to encourage his students to approach challenges critically and collaboratively. In his program, which aligns with the Utah State Board of Education’s Welding Technician pathway, younger students learn essential equipment and then bring a blueprint design to life. Advanced students take on complex builds and participate in specialized weld-offs and national SkillsUSA competitions, where his students have earned multiple state and national medals. As proud as Massic is of his students’ welding success, he is just as passionate about the opportunities he builds for mentorship and personal growth. He engages with each student on a personal level and prioritizes self-reflection, including his own. Massic captures successes and areas for improvement in a daily log and uses his learnings to refine his instruction. He responds dynamically to students’ needs while empowering them to positively influence others in their personal and professional endeavors.

Notes of Excellence

  • Massic has been awarded the Huntsman Teaching in Excellence Award, AWS Section 59 Educator of the Year, 2018 SkillsUSA Utah Cluster Chair of the Year, and the Utah ACTE 2023 Teacher of the Year for Work-Based Learning.
  • He serves as head of the CTE department and as the Utah Contest Director for SkillsUSA.
  • Massic’s master’s thesis focused on the effectiveness of virtual welding training aids in the classroom.
  • Two years post-graduation, approximately 90 percent of Massic’s students are still engaged in the industry or pursuing further education in trades-based or STEM programs.