(WACO, Texas) – Students at Dillard McCollum High School in San Antonio are starting the year learning in new dual enrollment classes through Texas State Technical College in Waco – a first for TSTC and the Alamo City.
Eight juniors and seniors are taking Introduction to Automotive Technology and Automotive Suspension and Steering Systems in the Automotive Technology program enabling them to receive high school credit and technical college hours. TSTC credentialed the high school’s automotive technology teachers, Mark Emmons and Michael Martinez, to teach the dual enrollment classes.
“McCollum High School is our first dual enrollment partner in San Antonio,” said Megan Redmond, a dual enrollment advisor at Texas State Technical College in Williamson County who has worked with the students to get them registered. “Their automotive program is incredible. It is a great area to break into and I am really excited where it could take us.”
Rudy Cervantez, TSTC’s statewide Automotive Technology Department chair, said approving the teachers and high school after a site visit was easy because they already had certification from the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.
“They have a nice shop and I was impressed,” Cervantez said.
Talks between the Harlandale Independent School District and TSTC began in fall 2017, said Tracy Anderson, the school district’s career and technical education coordinator.
TSTC has supported the school district’s college-going culture in other ways.
“During the fall, TSTC attended the Auto Tech Industry Advisory Committee meeting at McCollum High School, participated with a table at both of the district’s college and career fairs as well as District Family Night to provide information and answer questions,” Anderson said. “We look forward to having our dual credit students and both automotive instructors visit TSTC in Waco soon.”
San Antonio is home to Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas Inc. which employs 2,900 employees including TSTC graduates, according to the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation. Toyota’s presence helps make Texas in the top 10 among states for automotive manufacturing employment, according to the Texas Economic Development Division’s “The Texas Automotive Manufacturing Industry” report.
“There is a lot of potential for jobs for the students,” Cervantez said.
For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.
