School and Community Winter 2023

MEMBER PROFILE

Chasing a Spark: Welding instructor embraces life journey and inspires the next generation

STORY AND PHOTOS BY LINDSAY JAMES A ccording to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020 only 3.8% of welding, soldering and brazing workers were women. In an ever evolving industry, this statistic is subject to change and one MSTA member is determined to lead the way. DeIla Ray is the newest addition to the welding instructional team at the Davis H. Hart Career Center in Mexico, Mo. which offers a variety of career and technical programs to secondary students from nine

area schools. Although Ray has flourished in the role since starting in September, becoming a teacher was not originally in her career plan – nor was welding. Through life’s changes, Ray developed a unique skill set, inf luenced by her parents’ own tenacity and drive to succeed. “My father was a drill sergeant in the military and my mom was a marksman shooter. She also trained military police on how to drive Humvees and later worked in the

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