CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Trey Fisher can do just about anything with a piece of steel.
Trey Fisher (left) of Fisher’s Iron and Metal is expected to launch a community partnership with newly hired agricultural sciences teacher Vinnie Heller to assist with the Marble Falls High School’s expansion of the Career and Technology Education program to include welding, metal fabrication and woodworking curricula. Staff photo by Connie Swinney
“In my world, we do everything from tiny trinkets and artwork to the structure on the bridge,” he said. “If you drive an automobile, if you sit in a lawn chair or sleep in a bed, if you look around you, there is steel everywhere in your life.”
Fisher is the owner/operator of Fisher’s Iron and Metal, 2706 Commerce St., specializing in metal structures, fences, trailers and more.
“If it cracks or breaks, we can put it back together or we can make it,” he said. “It’s worth it to pay more to have steel. Steel is forever.”
As a business owner and a supporter of youth education, Fisher has offered his expertise to Marble Falls High School, which just hired agricultural sciences teacher Vinnie Heller to launch the welding, metal fabrication and woodworking arm of the Career and Technology Education program.
Heller, formerly of Comanche Independent School District, specializes in certified metal fabrication and woodworking curricula as well as agriculture sciences.
“The industry (of metal fabrication) is changing so much,” he said. “There’s such demand for this.”
Heller said the recent passage of House Bill 5 in Texas’ 83rd Legislative session emphasizes preparing students for industry, occupational trades and technology career fields — not just four-year colleges.
“There had been a big push in the last decade for kids to go onto college, and we forgot about all the trades,” Heller said. “(HB5) put career and technology classes on steroids. These kids who aren’t going onto college will have some way of making a living and providing a home for their future families.”
High school educators can focus on helping some students transition into trade schools and associate’s programs or perhaps jump right into occupations with higher pay opportunities.
An entry-level welding job might start at $10 per hour; however, a mid-level position might pay $20-$30 per hour, and a high-demand position in a lucrative company could reach $75 per hour, Fisher said.
“If it’s welding, sheet metal, tiling, concrete, you’ve got to have those people,” he said. “If you stop to think about it, there’s not very many (trades people) left to teach those trades.”
Fisher is the third generation welder from a family that has specialized in metal fabrication since the 1950s in the Highland Lakes.
He met with Heller on Aug. 16 to “talk shop” and examine some of his metal fabrication equipment and gear.
“If they need volunteer help, cheap prices in steel or just advice,” Fisher said, “I’ll assist in anyway possible that I can.”
Heller said he is starting from scratch to build the Marble Falls High School program. School trustees are scheduled to consider a possible bond issue to fund new facilities.
“We’re really excited to work with these individuals,” he said. “It’s going to be helpful for me to work with them, so we can help these kids.”
connie@thpicayune.com
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