My name is Kevin Gratton. I have taught Welding for the past thirty years. I have a Master’s Level Certification from the South Carolina State Department of Education in Welding. I taught in Fairfield County Schools for twenty‐six years and I am in my fifth year of teaching Welding at Lexington Technology Center. I worked in manufacturing as well as the construction industry before and during my teaching career. I was previously employed in the Welding Industry utilizing the four major processes, SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW. I have taught Welding and Pre‐Employment courses for Midlands Technical College and Welding courses for South Carolina Electric and Gas and Duke Energy. I am also currently teaching for the State Department of Education in the DIRECT Program. This is part of the certification program for all new Career & Technology Education (CATE) teachers. I serve as Second Vice Chairman of the American Welding Society, Columbia Section.