The exceptional automotive service programs offered at Americas, El Dorado, and Socorro high schools, which earned their second accreditation in the spring of 2022, are providing endless opportunities for students to excel in jobs and careers in the automotive service industry.
The Socorro Independent School District Career and Technical Education programs were awarded the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) reaccreditation, which is testament to the excellent instruction and highest standards that are followed to train students for intricate auto service jobs.
Some 1,200 students in the automotive service program at the three SISD high schools are receiving classroom instruction and hands-on training in real-world learning environments with expert teachers and innovative tools.
Americas High School sophomore Hernan Casillas said during his experience in the program he has learned skills such as rebuilding automatic transmission, manual transmission, HVAC, and a full engine rebuild.
“This program will help me achieve better job prospects after high school if I decide I want to become a certified auto mechanic,” Casillas said. “I feel the district has given us a good opportunity to learn through this program and to get auto mechanic certifications during our high school careers.”
Azariah Foxx, a senior at El Dorado High School, said he is currently employed at AutoZone thanks to the experience he’s gained from the program.
“I have learned a lot in my automotive class with in the past three years,” Foxx said. “I have been able to apply what I learned in class to my job.”
The SISD programs were first accredited in 2010 and are the only credentialed auto service schools within the El Paso area, along with Western Technical College.
Due to the high standards and the intensive documentation required for the ASE accreditation, many institutions do not attempt to achieve this seal of excellence, said SISD CTE director George Thomas.
The ASE Education Foundation sets the standard for the accreditation to ensure that there is a universal alignment between CTE and the automotive industry.
“Along with the credentialing for dual credit and the ASE accreditation, we are held to the highest standards that can be achieved for Automotive Education Programs,” Thomas said. “SISD CTE facilitator Amanda Acosta has worked diligently to ensure our teachers are teaching to their established curriculum and that they have all that they need to successfully teach.”
In addition, the reaccreditation has been successful due to the dedicated educators at the high schools, who work to prepare students to the rigor outlined in the accreditation standards. The auto service teachers also ensure all the requirements for recertification are met and attend professional development to strengthen their training and skills.
“The guidelines implemented from this program will help students stand out in the field, provide employable skills, and meet the expectations required in the automotive workplace as well as in post-secondary education,” said Alberto Gonzalez, CTE automotive instructor at Socorro High School. “This can lead to higher paying wages, promotions and career advancement, amongst other possibilities for students in the future.”
SISD also provides state-of-the-art facilities and tools that align with industry standards, such as two and four post lifts, alignment machines, multimeters, Pro Cut brake lathes, and various other automotive equipment.
“Having an accredited program bridges the gap between real world needs and classroom activities,” said Edward Alvarez, CTE automotive instructor at El Dorado High School. “Students learn skills that will help them succeed in the automotive industry.”
Acosta has provided support and oversight from the district to ensure the programs are operating at optimum levels.
“What having this certification says about the high standards SISD sets for its students is that we care about them not only while they are here with us but that we care about their future and that we want to make sure we’ve done everything that we can to set the foundation for them,” Acosta said. “When they leave us, I guarantee that they are going to be prepared for the workforce in the future.”
Next, the CTE department will be working to earn an accreditation for the district’s premier diesel technology.
The diesel technology program, which is housed at Socorro High School and open to all high school students, is a dual credit program in partnership with El Paso Community College.
Students can earn certifications recognized in the diesel technology field, such as maintaining/repairing brakes, diesel engines, suspension and steering, and electrical/electronic systems.
For more information about the outstanding CTE programs, please visit the SISD Career and Technical Education Department web page at https://www.sisd.net/page/care....
Published September 12, 2022
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