by Lee Corey
Like every school year, we have quite a few new teachers at SRHS this year, but one of the most exciting additions to our staff is manufacturing teacher Joseph Reynolds.
Reynolds began his teaching career in Orange County in Southern California as a special education teacher. He said, “I got burnt out on too much paperwork, and then I decided to open my own fabrication business.” He explained that he gained welding skills from working in construction trades in his early 20s working as a commercial diver and underwater welder. His welding skills allowed him to open his own fabrication business and eventually teach SRHS’s manufacturing class.
Despite the freedom that his fabrication business allowed him, Reynolds explained that it became less than ideal after some time. “[It] just kind of turned out that . . . I was having to hustle for jobs more than I really wanted to. I would rather not be a salesman and just do the work.” Additionally, a more stable job was better for Reynolds’ wife and kids.
However, it took Reynolds a while to actually get into the classroom. There was about a month at the beginning of the school year during which manufacturing students worked out of a textbook with a long-term substitute. Reynolds explained, “I got my special ed credential in Illinois, and they had different rules.” Staff issues in the human resources department also contributed to how long it took to get Reynolds in the classroom.
Though it took a while for Reynolds to begin teaching this year, he is excited about teaching his class and has had a positive experience with our school so far. “I’m really loving it. We have a really cool population,” he said. He also expressed that most of his students are very enjoyable to teach. “I don’t really feel like there’s any bad apples. . . . Everybody’s just always so good-hearted and happy to be here,” he said.
We’re excited to have a great teacher like Reynolds at our school, and many people in our staff and student populations are very excited that our manufacturing program is staying alive.
