DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — As Marble Falls High School career and technology teacher Vinny Heller prepares for the new school year, he sees a world of potential for his students.
“My vision is, when they leave high school, they’ll have several certifications and can basically step right into the industry and get a job,” he said. Heller teaches metal fabrication and welding at the high school. This marks his second year at the campus, but thanks to additional funding through a voter-approved bond and district support, his program and the entire Marble Falls ISD Career and Technology program is undergoing a major transformation.
“In education, the pendulum often swings one way or the other,” said Bruce Peckover, the MFISD career and technology director. “But thanks to (state legislation), schools are really looking at how they prepare students not just for college but for career readiness.”
Under House Bill 5 passed by state leaders, students now must work toward an endorsement in one of several areas, including math, science, arts and humanities, business, public service and technology. Peckover said students are no longer separated into either “vocational training” or college-bound studies. School districts must prepare them for career readiness, whether they plan to attend college, pursue technical training or enter the workforce immediately after graduation.
“Basically, all kids are in a career and technology path,” Peckover said. “This is a big paradigm shift.”
To prepare students in job or career readiness, schools must change how they educate youth. Peckover said MFISD is doing this through both typical classroom studies and a dose of “hands-on” learning. And it’s not just little projects the students tackle. They’ll also be working on industry-standard equipment.
Heller pointed out a plasma cutter the high school is adding to the metal fabrication program.
“I can get a high-definition image off the computer and cut it out of sheet metal — up to a half an inch thick,” he said. “This is the same one used in the industry, and the kids will be using it.”
“And that’s what we want,” Peckover said. “We want our kids to be learning on the same equipment they’ll use in the industry when they go out to get job.”
The metal fabrication program is adding 10 welding centers, pipe benders, drill presses and other equipment students will use. But it’s not just the metal fabrication program. The district is creating a program that will give students interested in horticulture, health sciences, robotics, engineering, animal science and other areas opportunities to earn certifications, develop workforce skills and work on the latest equipment. The district’s robotics program is getting an industry-standard robot like the one used in major manufacturing plants such as Dell Computers and Toyota.
“Our students will be able to walk into these companies and say, ‘I can use that robot and write the code to program it,’’’ Peckover said. “Think what that’s going to do for our students.”
Career and technology combines theory, study and practical application. Peckover said, in the end, it’s not just about offering students a pathway to success (though that’s a big part of it), it’s also about the community.
“The reality is only about 28 percent of students go on to a four-year college. That means the majority of students are left behind. This gives students a path to the workforce and career readiness. It gives 100 percent of our students a way to good careers,” Peckover said. “And we’re building our community by providing qualified workers.”
daniel@thepicayune.com
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