“Creating the right classroom environment is critical to making this possible. I work hard to ensure that my shop is a place where students can leave the burdens they carry at the door. My classroom is a safe, respectful space where every student—regardless of background, culture, race, religion, or gender—is welcome and supported.“
Matthew McMullen teaches industrial technology at Clio High School in Clio, Michigan. Raised in a family of mechanics and farmers where building, fixing, and working with tools was part of daily life, he developed an early appreciation for figuring out how things work. Although he originally planned to study naval architecture, a high school woodshop teacher inspired him to pivot toward education so he could help others learn the joy of building. He brings a versatile background to his classroom, teaching woods technology, welding, mechanical drafting, consumer technology, and construction math. A dedicated educator who earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Saginaw Valley State University and holds a CTE endorsement in welding, McMullen intentionally connects different trades so students discover practical applications for everyday life and future careers.
Inside his shop, McMullen cultivates a safe, supportive environment where students gain confidence through rigorous, hands-on fabrication. His welding curriculum centers on earning industry-recognized certifications through the American Welding Society, giving students tangible credentials before high school graduation. In his woodworking and construction math courses, students apply advanced technical precision to ambitious, real-world builds, including handcrafting recurve bows, building strip canoes, constructing storage sheds, and converting a cattle trailer into a mobile sauna. By mastering layout, machine setup, safe tool operation, and strict industry tolerances, McMullen’s students learn persistence, teamwork, and the transformative pride of craftsmanship.
McMullen previously was a finalist for the 2023 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence.
Notes of Excellence
- Business & Industry Alignment: Collaborates with partners such as Flint Welding Supply, Saginaw Welding Supply, and local trades, while serving on the Mott Community College welding advisory board to align curriculum directly with regional workforce needs.
- Key Program Impact: Implemented a longitudinal graduate tracking survey confirming that a significant portion of program graduates successfully enter high-demand skilled trades, including welding, carpentry, electrical, HVAC, and automotive mechanics.
- Community Connection: Students have converted a cattle trailer to a sauna, built storage sheds, and recently designed and fabricated a custom log trailer used to transport donated community timber to the school for student lumber milling.