Riverside Unified School District restores welding instruction at John W. North High School
2 min read
From left to right: Riverside Unified Board of Education Member Dale Kinnear, Superintendent Dr. Sonia Llamas, Board Clerk Amanda Vickers, Board Member Brent Lee and John W. North High School Principal Jodi Gonzales. Photo by Riverside Unified School District
John W. North High School celebrated the opening of Riverside Unified School District’s first Welding & Fabrication Technologies program with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 6, creating a new Career Technical Education pathway to prepare students for high-demand careers in the skilled trades.
Welding & Fabrication Technologies adds to Riverside Unified’s growing portfolio of CTE offerings, with students across the district now having access to 25 unique programs and 52 individual pathways. The district’s newest CTE program is housed in a newly renovated classroom on John W. North High School’s campus – equipped with eight welding stations and a range of advanced manufacturing equipment, including mills, band saws, four 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters and a vacuum-forming machine.
“This program is about expanding possibilities for our scholars,” RUSD Superintendent Dr. Sonia Llamas said. “Our responsibility is to provide meaningful pathways for every single scholar based on their goals and interests. This hands-on learning environment gives our scholars the opportunity to work with the technologies and equipment used in today’s skilled and manufacturing industries while developing skills and confidence they can carry into their futures.”
Welding & Fabrication Technologies will introduce students to advanced manufacturing processes, welding techniques, industry safety standards and career-ready skills. More than 190 John W. North High School students are enrolled in the school’s new program. It restores welding instruction at John W. North High School, which offered a welding program in the 1970s and 1980s, Principal Jodi Gonzales said.
“This is a full-circle moment for John W. North High School, and it represents the next chapter in our commitment to preparing students for the future,” Gonzales said. “Our students are eager to get started, and this new learning environment gives them the opportunity to develop technical skills and explore a career pathway that is in high demand.”
The Welding & Fabrication Technologies pathway supports Riverside Unified’s 2026-2031 Strategic Plan by expanding college and career pathways while strengthening partnerships that prepare students for success in an evolving workforce. The project was made possible through the support of construction partners like Tilden-Coil Constructors and Ruhnau Clarke Architects who helped bring this new learning environment to life, according to Riverside School District.
This program is about creating opportunities for students to discover what they love, build on their strengths and begin imagining the possibilities for their futures,” Board President Dr. Noemi Hernandez Alexander said. “When we invest in our students, we are investing in their future. We are committed to preparing every student not only for their next step, but for the possibilities ahead.”
