Hey Gerald!
I've got to mention this to you because I asked myself the same question years ago...
Most schools are looking for someone and here's the key word: "PREFERED" with a Bachelor's degree and something like two yearsof actual welding/fabricating experience or equivalent combination of education and work experience (I think you already have that "Equivalent" combination of education & experience friend!)... They also expect one to be familiar in many area's & processes including such topics as:
Welding Physics, Basic Welding Metallurgy, Welding & NDT symbols , blueprint reading and welding design & fabrication, Structural/Pipe Welding & layout/fitting, Cost/Estimation, OFC, OAW, SMAW, GMAW, FCAW,GTAW, SAW, CAC, Familiar with automated or robotic applications in some cases, etc.
One of the talents that you already got going for you is that you already have teaching experience which IMHO, is better than coming fresh out of school with a fancy piece of paper, still wet behind the ears with less than a decade of actual experience under one's belt and then be led to think that they're more qualified to teach than someone that's already went through the trial by fire through years of blod sweat & tears and really loves what they're doing because it shows in the success of their students when they bump into them later on in life and mention that they're now supervising or making sooo much money that it's feels almost criminal (We know it is'nt but, one of my students thought so and mentioned it to me!!!).
If you've already developed curriculum, then you're way ahead of most newly hired inexperienced instructors... If you know how to manage both the classroom and lab with military precision then, you're way ahead of some of the newcomers who really should spend more time out in the field honing their time management skills before they attempt to experiment with a class... If you already have confident presentation skills then keep improving on them because communication skills education never stops when one is the educator!!! If you're already the most unforgiving SOB in the lab or in the classroom for that matter, then you'll earn the class respect in short order because remember, they do'nt have to love you - they've just got to respect you so, make sure you're firm but fair - remember the USN and the way they taught you??? Need I say anymore??? An AWS CWE does'nt hurt either... If you already know how to dance with administratium's BS then, you'll go far Son!!!
If you have kids, then teach your students like you would want your children to be taught ;)
I can go on and on but, I know that there are other instructor's here that also have words of wisdom for you to embrace so I'll leave you with this: I personally think that you would be a fine instructor Gerald - PERIOD!!! ;) Remember where you come from and remember where you've been because as long as you have that in focus, the rest is gravy baby!!! ;)
Respectfully,
Henry