William Burbeck

Email: wburbeck@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Phone: 701-499-1866

I’m excited to be entering my second year as a teacher after transitioning from the automotive industry. Last year, I began my teaching journey at Fargo South High's automotive program, and it's been a rewarding shift from the shop floor to the classroom. 

My passion for automotive technology started back in high school, where I began taking auto classes in my junior year. I spent my summers working as a technician apprentice at a fleet shop, learning everything from disassembling vehicles to diagnosing and repairing brake systems, radiators, and charging systems. Before attending WyoTech, I even had the opportunity to dive into transmission work—learning to identify worn components and rebuild them after disassembling 25+ of the same model. 

At WyoTech, I earned an associate degree in Automotive and Business Management. Just two years into my professional career, I became ASE Master Certified. One of the most fulfilling roles I had was at Throttles Automotive, where we specialized in both standard repairs and full restomod builds. From suspension upgrades and engine swaps to digital dashes and stand-alone ECUs, my favorite part was always wiring—getting modern systems to work together inside classic shells. 

Originally, I planned to open my own shop, but life had other plans. After getting married and having my stepson Eric join me in the shop I managed, I found a new passion—teaching. Helping him go from no experience to a Level B technician in a year was incredibly rewarding and showed me the impact of mentorship and instruction. That experience led me here, to teaching full time. 

Outside of work, I’m married with two stepchildren—Eric (21) and my stepdaughter (18). I enjoy spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, camping, and bowling. I also have a few project cars I tinker with in my free time. Most of my time I spend checking off honey-do list projects around the house. They start with wanting to “get a hot tub” and turn into building a heated and cooled four-season enclosure, where we now spend time with friends playing cards and listening to music videos. 

I'm passionate about bringing real-world shop experience into the classroom and helping students develop practical skills that prepare them for life after high school.