Fairbanks welding instructor named Alaska Teacher of the Year

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) - Alaska has a new Teacher of the Year in Pete Daley, who was selected for the honor by the State of Alaska and the Alaska Dept. of Education and Early Development.

Daley, a welding instructor at Hutchison High School in Fairbanks, began teaching more than two decades ago. His time as a teacher in Alaska began in Minto, where he worked for the Yukon-Koyukuk School District. In 2010, he moved to Hutchison High School, when the opportunity arose to become a welding instructor there.

Reflecting back on the time he’s spent in his position, and having now received the title of teacher of the year, Daley said he wouldn’t change a thing about his career path.

“It’s been the best experience of my life,” he said.

Competing against a pool of 100 nominees, Daley said he has experienced a lot of different emotions since being honored with the award.

”I found out recently that one of my students nominated me,” he said, “and I was deeply touched and humbled and honored all at the same time.”

Since coming to Fairbanks, Daley has piloted numerous programs for the school district, including its Welding Academy and a girls’ welding class.

Calling himself a lifelong learner, Daley said he wanted to impart that belief on his own students.

“I try to instill other skills in students,” he said. “Some people call them soft skills — I call them professional skills — but being able to communicate, problem solve, being able to work with a team, managing your social media, being able to communicate effectively."

“In addition to that, I’m a voracious reader of everything,” he continued, “and so I try to instill that value in the students. If you want to get ahead, look, that’s what you have to do, you have to read. If you want to advance and progress and get additional certifications, you do have to read.”

Daley emphasized that his courses are about more than welding, as many of his students may not go into a related career.

“This actually kind of hikes their interest in it,” he said, saying that the classes expose students to many different things. “Things that maybe they weren’t thinking of, whether it’s electrical or mechanical and whatever that is. So, this is kind of a springboard to launch them to, if not welding, at least other trades and industry.”

According to Daley, there’s a shortage of workers and having people who are skilled and “can hit the ground running” is an asset.

“If you look around town, there’s ‘Help Wanted’ signs everywhere,” he said. “I’m doing my part to fill that pipeline of workers, so businesses have employees that can, you know, they can utilize right away after school.”

He also said he gets the reap the rewards of seeing his own work come to fruition, as he does welding inspection work outside of the classroom.

“To be able to see that, and know that the skills that I’m, you know, imparting are tangible and they’re being utilized,” he said, “it’s fascinating.

“I get satisfaction and enjoyment seeing them successful,” he added, “and as long as that brings me joy, I don’t foresee me doing anything else in the too distant future. I enjoy the students, they keep me young, so I like it.”

Having now been recognized as the Teacher of the Year for Alaska, Daley said that there’s even more motivation to continue his work.

“There’s a little more gravitas now,” he said, “and with that, it’s almost kind of like it’s mission critical now, like, now I understand even better that I have a focus, to impact even more students. So, to get them challenged, to get them engaged, to allow them to understand their why — so they have a goal in mind and they can see it.”

He said the credit for the accolade belongs not only to him, however, but to many others as well.

“I owe everyone a debt of gratitude,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of help along the way. I’ve been mentored, and now I have the spirit of generativity.”

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