Southeast Career Technical Academy manufacturing teacher awarded $100K prize

Manufacturing teacher Alex Bechtler was greeted Tuesday morning with a red carpet and a $100,000 check. In a nationwide competition with more than 900 applicants, Bechtler is the first teacher in Nevada to win the grand prize.

“What elevates Mr. Bechtler beyond everyone else is he has the ability to find a spark inside his students. And he has the extreme ability to ignite that spark.” Southeast Career Technical Academy Principal Isabelle Sanchez said.

The award — $70,000 of which will be used for the school and $30,000 to Bechtler himself — was given by Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, which has been giving the awards since 2017 with the goal of advancing excellent skilled trades.

Bechtler said he will put the $70,000 toward equipment such as a drill press and mechanical trainers.

“We’re definitely going to go to harbor freight and stock up on some tools that we need that in order to teach a better class within our room,” he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Bechtler runs the advanced manufacturing program at the Clark County School District school, which has been praised for the success of his students. Upon graduation, students are offered salaries of up to $70,000, according to a press release.

“As you know, we have a vision. And that vision is to be the best,” Bechtler said.

Congresswoman Dina Titus agreed with that designation.

“You talk about being the best in the state, and I think that is absolutely where you’re headed if you’re not already there, because your reputation precedes you. You make us very, very proud,” Titus said at the event.

Titus also highlighted Bechtler’s accomplishments — he is the most certified automation instructor in the country and has trained and certified 55 other instructors from 31 schools.

Bechtler served for 10 years as a civil engineer and structural craftsman in the U.S. Air Force. As he was transitioning out of the military, it was his wife, Melissa Bechtler, who thought he would make a great teacher.

Students

At the event, several students said he had changed their lives.

Rose Hughes said she was going to be a nurse until she met teacher Alex Bechtler.

“You changed that real quick,” she said.

Now, Hughes plans to go into engineering. She called Bechtler the most passionate and loving teacher she has ever had.

“I want to love my job as much as you do,” she said.

Armando Rodriguez said the program has made him more advanced than his classmates at UNLV. In his three-hour class, Rodriguez typically completes his work in around 30 minutes. Then, he helps his other classmates catch up.

‘Sometimes you wonder if they’re real’

Bechtler choked up as he expressed his gratitude for winning.

“When you see these,” he said, pointing to the large check, “sometimes you wonder if they’re real.”

Bechtler was a finalist for the prize last year and thanked the people who had encouraged him to apply again this year.

He also thanked everyone who had helped get him there, including his family, students and colleagues.

“This doesn’t happen without a bunch of people behind you,” Bechtler said.

Contact Katie Futterman at kfutterman@reviewjournal.com.