Course Overview
Welcome to the Agricultural Metal Tech and Welding programs at BHS! Operating under our Manufacturing Cluster, these courses equip students with real-world trade skills while opening direct pathways to industry certifications, college credit, and rewarding careers.
What We Cover
Safety & Fundamentals: Rigorous shop safety, blueprint reading, layout, and precision fabrication.
Technical Execution: Multi-process welding, power control systems, and full proficiency with industry tools.
Real-World Competition: Opportunities to showcase talent, build networks, and win scholarships through FFA, SkillsUSA, and the Texas High School Welding Series.
Industry Certifications & Career Readiness The ultimate goal of these courses is to prepare students to step directly into competitive, high-paying trades. Students will build the skills necessary to test for certifications under key industry standards, including:
AWS D1.1 (Structural Welding)
AWS D9.1 (Sheet Metal Welding)
API 1104 (Pipeline Welding)
ASME Section IX (Boiler & Pressure Vessel Welding)
High Standards & Safety Because welding is a high-skill, hazardous trade, we hold our students to professional-grade standards. Safety contracts are required to ensure our shop remains a secure, focused environment where serious, driven students can thrive.
A Lifelong Trade What I love most about this field is that learning never stops—you can spend a lifetime mastering new techniques and taking pride in what you build. My goal is to pass that same passion and drive on to these young men and women.
Please feel free to reach out at any time. I am fully dedicated to supporting our students and doing whatever it takes to help them succeed!
About me
My name is A.J. Lewis and I am the Head welding instructor/ ag. mech. and metal fab. teacher for Burkburnett HS. My wife and I have been together since 2011 and we have 3 wonferful kids. We also have a couple doggos and 1 cat. I have been a certified welder for 16 years and instructor for 14 years. I hold multiple certifications, licenses, and codes. I am also a CPWI "certified pipeline welding inspector as well as an ASNT Level 2"R" inspector, and hold an AAS of Welding Technologies. I am currently in my final semester at MSU Texas pursuing a BAAS of industrial technologies. From there, I plan to move on to obtaining my masters of industrial engineering or technologies. Now, as for myself I am a graduate of BHS and from there I then joined the United States Army in December 2006. I left the Army in December of 2011 with an honorable discharge and decided to go to college to further my welding career. Since then I have built a welding program at BHS that began in 2013 and paused in 2107, resumed 2022-present, was the lead adjunct instructor at Vernon College (2013-2018), and most recently an instructor for Texas State Technical College @ West Texas (2019-2022). All of the roads taken have always lead me home, right back to BHS where it is apparent that God wants me to stay! I look forward to growing this program with my Ag Sciences Team and sending students into the workforce/college with a set of unmatched skills, ready to take life head on no matter where they want to go or what they want to do!
NATHAN ANDERSON
3RD PLACE W.F. AAE CDE
1ST PLACE 22/23 WICHITA DISTRICT
4TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL AREA IV 22/23- BRAYDEN FUGATE
NATHAN A.
NICK C.
BRAYDEN F.
MASON R.
TYLER S.
A.J. LEWIS- ADVISOR*
Hillsboro Ag. Mech Show 2025
Hillsboro Ag. Mech Show 2025
2025 TSTC & TXHSWS Cert Event
Griggs Crumpler Takes home the win!
AWS D9.1- 27
AWS D1.1- 1
API 1104- 0
ASME TITLE IX- 0
Sorry but we were under construction and moved out of our welding shop so there wasn't many certs that were able to get done. That said we had 5 total kids get certs anyways!
AWS D9.1- 7
AWS D1.1- 2
AWS D9.1- 20
AWS D1.1- 1
API 1104- 0
ASME TITLE IX- 0
AWS D9.1- 0
AWS D1.1- 0
API 1104- 0
ASME Title IX- 0
Resources
Below are a list of resource links for any information to questions you may have. Also be sure to head to Facebook and join the Burkburnett H.S. Welding group.
All, students that are enrolled in any of our classes out here in the ag sciences building will receive a copy of the contract and will need to read, sign, and return before continuing in the courses.
Here is a list of basic tools that anyone wanting to pursue this trade should have. This is not a requirement as of now. However it is highly recommended to have your own tool kit or to build one throughout your time in this program. At the very least I would say have your own helmet, shirt, gloves, and boots. There is a couple of places that will carry everything that you may need: TSC, Airgas, Atwoods, and Metroplex Welding Supply, AllTex Welding supply online. We will have lockers for those that dont have a locking tool box as well as locker room for the competing kids or fabrication teams.
Student sites
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3640/BISD/4822073/24-25_Student_Code_Of_Conduct.pdf
STUDENT HANDBOOK https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3640/BISD/4643943/Acknowledgment_Electronic_Distribution_2024-25.pdf
[Link]
Parent sites
https://www.burkburnettisd.org/bisd-resources
https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/2970667/PDFs/BHS_COURSE_CATALOG_2020-2021.pdf