Auto Mechanic PATHWAY
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hen Mr. Zach Terry began teaching at GHS in 1990, the auto mechanics program had a mere three students and has since grown to well over 100 students. The day-to-day work of the auto mechanics classes includes working on their own cars (oil, brakes, transmission) and doing various welding projects for the school. As with all of our CTE courses, the Auto Tech classes are preparing these students for the workforce. Any credentials that the students can obtain prior to graduation ease the transition to their future careers. GHS is proud to offer the OSHA 30-hour general industry certification, NC3 certifications in torque applications, digital volt ohm meters, and battery starting and charging. These certifications are critical to obtaining jobs in the field and give our students the upper hand when applying for jobs. It is not uncommon for students to
complete the Automotive pathway of Auto Basics, Auto 2, and Advanced Auto and pursue post-secondary education at schools such as UTI or Lincoln Technical. There are currently five GHS graduates at UTI and two graduated this past summer. Four years ago, Terry was approached and asked to help with an extensive project when a personal investor brought in a 1946 fire engine, which had been in service in Gainesville until 1982. The restoration of the truck has been continuous since 2018, and students have been deeply involved with the complete overhaul of the engine, transmission, and other mechanical aspects of the truck including the brakes, wheels, and pump. Once complete, the truck will be on permanent loan to the City of Gainesville to be used for public events, and forever will have a special meaning to the Gainesville High School students who took part in the project over the years.
Law Enforcement PATHWAY A
s a District of Innovation (DOI), GISD has the flexibility to hire experts in the field who can best meet the needs of the students. These teachers may not yet have a teaching certificate, but have the required experience to be able to provide the content knowledge our students need to enter an increasingly innovative world. In the Fall of 2017, the law enforcement pathway was launched when Michael Hill, a retired sergeant from the Houston Police Department, returned home to Gainesville after 26 years of service and was hired as a teacher at GHS under the DOI. Now in its fifth year, the program consists of four different courses. Principles of Law Enforcement, a freshman class, introduces the students to the history of law enforcement, basic constitutional rights, and the Texas Penal code. Law Enforcement 1, for second-year students, goes into greater detail, expanding on the concepts introduced in the first
year. Third-year students are introduced to criminal investigations, where they use the knowledge and skills learned in previous years to investigate and solve crimes. In Law Enforcement II, the fourth-year students build on the knowledge learned in previous years to re-examine major cases in history as well as current investigations. They also develop more advanced skills such as DWI field sobriety tests, DNA blood sample collection, and other types of investigative skills. Students that complete the four-year program get the honor of wearing the distinctive blue and black braided cords on the graduation gowns. The law enforcement pathway prepares students for jobs in many career fields from local corrections officers up to Federal law enforcement officers, lawyers, judges and just being a knowledgeable citizen. Winter 2021 • Gainesville SPOTlight •
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