2 Feb 2009
Automotive Technician Courses are Available in Two High Schools
DALLAS–Students from two Dallas Independent School District high schools are preparing themselves to seek an automotive career. With the help of a local industry advisory council, automotive technician courses are available at Skyline and L. G. Pinkston high schools.
"Automotive technicians are still in high demand and local automotive businesses are working with Dallas ISD to assure qualified technicians are available," said Joanne Frantzen, director – Career Education and Workforce Partnership for Dallas ISD.
Approximately 104 students, who are part of the automotive technician program, take the automotive technician courses as their electives, along with other required courses for graduation and success in an automotive career.
"The advisory council is working with Dallas ISD staff to ensure that the automotive technician programs at Skyline and Pinkston high schools are preparing students to continue their automotive training in college and enter the workforce," said Frantzen.
"In spite of the economy, people tend to get their cars repaired," said Field Service Engineer – Ford Customer Service Division, Joe McDonald. "Over the next five to 10 years, the number of openings for qualified automotive technicians will continue to grow, as vehicle technologies become more complex and existing technicians retire. We believe the Dallas ISD automotive technician programs are headed in the right direction to help fill this need."
The advisory council and district staff are aiming to get the district's automotive technician program certified by the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation. The certification process includes meeting the national recognized NATEF standards of quality in the training program's instruction, equipment, facility, instructional staff, resources, and district support. Once the district reaches the required standards, the automotive technician