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Road paved for Highland High School students to get auto body certifications
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After Highland High School students expressed interest in careers in auto body work, the ABC Community School Partnership has paved the way for students to get their certifications through the school, Bernalillo County officials announced last month.
The new programs, one of which is already underway, are an example of listening to the community to provide opportunities that interest students, said Jake Mirabal, interim co-director of the county’s Community School Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Department.
“They’re really just looking for those types of opportunities — autos being, obviously, a big one of the traits that were identified,” he said.
Bernalillo County, as part of the community schools partnership, set aside $95,000 to pay two auto body instructors, cover program costs and provide $1,000 stipends to students upon completion of the pilot program.
Those instructors have been hired — they’re auto body professionals who own a shop near Highland — and the pilot program has already begun, Mirabal said. Twenty students signed up for the pilot.
Another 36-week program is set to begin in the fall.
“When you really do some authentic community engagement and you try to partner with the community … there’s a lot of hope and future opportunities for students,” Mirabal said.
