02/18/2025
๐ฏ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐
: ๐ฝ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐-๐น๐๐๐
๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐
Drew Barnes said he is always pleased to see how fast the students in his automotive technology program learn.
"It is actually a very difficult subject at the level we teach it. We cover all eight major areas of automotive service and repair, while also incorporating math, physics, chemistry, and employability skills. So, there is a very deep level of learning that takes place", he said.
Barnes, who has taught at Vale High School since 2011, leads one of the most successful career and technical education programs in the Vale School District. According to Vale School District Superintendent, Alisha McBride, โThe Vale High School Automotive Technology program equips students with hands-on skills and industry knowledge, providing a pathway for many graduates to transition to high-wage, high-demand careers in the automotive field. Whether graduates of the program enter the workforce immediately or continue their education at a trade school or college, the Vale High School Automotive Technology program provides a strong foundation for success.โ
The programโs achievements rest with the quality and enthusiasm of the students, said Barnes. โItโs fun. The end goal is to make successful students who find jobs in relevant careers,โ he said.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, 38 Vale High School students earned 94 industry recognized certifications through the automotive technology program. โWe have a lot of former students employed at different spots around the Treasure Valley,โ said Barnes.
The automotive technology program classes are electives open to students in grades 9 through 12. The program features a long tradition of success, including earning accolades at state and national level automotive contests.
Since 2015, said Barnes, Vale automotive technology program students have competed in state and national SkillsUSA National Leadership competitions. โWeโve taken a student to nationals for several years. Last year, we had four students that went to nationals and competed in automotive services,โ he said.
The SkillsUSA National Leadership automotive competition compels students to showcase their skills at different workstations and includes an interview and a written exam. The competition framework is built around task lists from the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation and the National Institute for Automotive Excellence.
โWe also do a lot of other competitive events. We travel to Idaho State University, BYU Idaho and a contest at Weber State University in Ogden,โ said Barnes.
Achieving success at automotive competitions, though, isnโt the goal of the program. Barnes said the key aim of the program is to prepare students for the future by teaching them crucial skills needed in the American workforce.
That, in turn, means helping young students secure professional certifications and build a base of knowledge for the future.
He said his students can earn up to 10 different automotive certifications. โThen, they go into the (automotive) industry with an apprenticeship level certification. It is the same test an auto technician must take to get certified,โ he said.
Barnes said he does not focus on certifications until students are in their second year of the program.
The automotive technology program is divided into four sections. Auto I is the entry level, one-hour class, said Barnes. โWe learn about basic automotive technology and how engines work,โ he said.
During the second year, or Auto II, the students spend two full class periods in a row in the Vale High School Auto Shop. Auto II, he said, focuses on electrical automotive systems and then moves into โengines performance, brakes, tires and wheels.โ
Auto III and IV classes consist mainly of juniors and seniors. โAt that point, we cover the rest of the vehicle, manual and auto transmission, heating, air conditioning,โ he said.
Barnes said the programโs emphasis on in-depth education regarding automotive skills is โnot typical of a lot of high school programs.โ โWe kind of go above the state standard,โ he said.
The program also contains educational curriculum on electric and hybrid vehicles. โIn 2017 we did an electrical car kit. The kids built the entire car from the ground up and weโve built a solar powered electric go-cart,โ he said.
The Vale High School automotive shop often functions like a real-world workplace, with cars on lifts or on the ground for students to work on.
Barnes said he tries to keep the education standard โat a pretty high level.โ โWe have about 20 cars we use for different training,โ he said.
Local residents sometimes deliver their cars for tune-ups or repairs. โStudents then have to do the whole process including an estimate on the repairs. They have to have one of the customers talk to them about the cost of parts and the time it will take and then invoice them when they are done,โ said Barnes.
Barnes also instructs students on how to build resumes and he holds mock job interviews.
โSome of their grade is based on attendance and they have to turn in weekly time sheets where they have to document their detailed work. Weโre really trying to get them prepared for work,โ he said.
Barnes said automotive technology jobs are in high demand. โA lot of people are retiring and so there are a long line of spots to be filled. I stay in contact with a lot of shops, and they call me looking for graduates who are searching for work,โ he said.
Barnes said teaching automotive technology is rewarding. โThe end goal is to make successful students find jobs in relevant careers,โ he said.
Vale High School Vale Automotive Technology Oregon Department of Education
