San Jose, Calif.-Training high school upperclassmen to repair cars and then preparing them to work in the automotive repair industry is the main objective of the Central County Occupational Center (CCOC). It's something the center has been doing for more than 80 years, CCOC Autobody Repair Instructor Robert McTaggert said.
The automotive technology career cluster at CCOC includes five automotive classes in autobody repair and refinishing, brakes and alignment, tuneups and electrical, engines and transmissions, and heavy trucks and diesel.
By successfully completing a two-year program consisting of three-hour classes five days a week during the school year, students earn certificates and are eligible for higher education and/or employment in the automotive industry, McTaggert said.
College units can be earned by students who earn grades of B or better, and academic equivalency may be earned toward graduation, he said.
After their first year, students can do summer internships at area auto shops and dealerships, McTaggert said. Before that, he said, they do two things to get industry exposure–-"job shadowing" and "community classroom."
"First, we let them do job shadowing, which is where they go to a local shop and just observe. Then, they can go on to the community classroom, where they get actual hands-on experience in a shop. Once they've successfully completed both of those stages, they are eligible for a summer internship, where they work as a full-time employee at a shop and get paid $10 an hour."
The CCOC auto tech program is attended by about 370 students, 120 in the autobody classes and 250 in the mechanical repair programs, McTaggert said. CCOC serves six school districts in Santa Clara County, he said. The program employs seven full-time instructors, two on the collision side and four in mechanical repair.
Enrollment at CCOC is always at capacity, and the school's retention is better than 95 percent, McTaggert said.
"There's normally a waiting list for students to get in here," McTaggert said. "The program is very popular because these kids realize that they can make great money and have good careers in this industry. Once we get them in here, we don't lose many."
McTaggert, 50, said he has been an autobody instructor for CCOC for seven years after working in the collision repair industry for close to three decades. He was a student at CCOC many years ago, he said.
"I took a class here myself in 1976, and then worked as a bodyman and an assistant manager at body shops for 27 years," McTaggert said. "So I try to teach these kids what it's going to be like out there in the real world. I've been there, and I know what it takes to be successful, so I try to communicate that knowledge to my students."
McTaggert said he has seen a lot of things change since he started teaching collision repair at CCOC.
"Back when I first started teaching here, we were showing the students how to work on chrome bumpers and round headlights, and we were showing them how to do oxyacetylene welding," he said. "Now all the bumpers are plastic, most of the headlights are made of composite material, and all the welding is MIG."
All of the CCOC automotive technology career classes are taught out of two 22,500-square-foot buildings, consisting of classrooms, shops, and labs containing all of the newest mechanical and collision repair equipment, McTaggert said.
"We want our students to be able to hit the ground running when they graduate," he said. "So, we try to get the latest equipment in here for them to use and practice on. In our body/refinishing lab, we have the newest measuring systems, frame racks, and spray booths. That way there won't be any surprises for them when they start working for a shop."
Autobody refinishing Instructor Nathan Chukes, 43, said he worked as a painter/refinisher for 15 years before he began teaching at CCOC in 1999. He said he stresses employability to all of his students.
"It's 50 percent of my curriculum. Everything my students do comes with an employability score, and it makes up half their grade. I teach my class as if it were a job. No horseplay; they have to be on time; if they aren't going to be here, they have to call. If they're not in uniform, they don't attend class. Safety glasses must be worn at all times. We won't tolerate nonsense. I tell my students that I used to be nice, but that was a long time ago."
Making sure his students can attain and keep a job once they've completed the program is his main goal, Chukes said.
"My kids have to conduct themselves properly and be responsible" he said. "Out in a body shop, their boss isn't going to put up with it, so I'm not going to put up with it, either. We can teach them all the skills and techniques in the world, but if they don't know how to hold a job, what have we really achieved?"
One major change in the refinishing curriculum at CCOC is taking place right now, Chukes said. "We're preparing to teach waterborne painting techniques right now because it's going to be the required way of doing things starting next year. It's a major conversion from using solvent to water, and we want our kids to know how to do it. We're currently in the process of changing our paint, spray equipment, and paint booth setup to accommodate waterborne painting."
Both the collision and mechanical programs at CCOC participate in SkillsUSA competitions throughout the state every year, Chukes said. In 2003 and 2007, center students won state gold medals and went on to compete in the nationals, he said.
"SkillsUSA is a great competition because it's a big confidence builder and gives them an opportunity to see how they match up against other students throughout the state and the country. When they do well, it makes the whole program look good.
Both of our gold-medal winners parlayed their success into scholarships at tech schools UTI and Wyotech, respectively."
Chukes said the CCOC relies heavily on financial support and donations from local shops and organizations such as the California Autobody Association (CAA).
"Local paint companies, dealerships, collision repair shops, and the CAA all help us out all the time. The CAA gives us something every year, like a TV/VCR, spray guns, and a measuring system, for example. They also give our top graduates a free tool kit to get them started out right when they begin working in their first shop."