Reno, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — In the Washoe County School District, nearly every high school offers trade and skilled classes such as welding, metalworking and architecture. However, Spanish Springs High School (SSHS) stands out as the only school offering an automotive technology class, drawing students eager to learn the trade.
Jai Marquez, a student at Spanish Springs, wanted to take the class. “I switched schools just to be here. My mom lives out in South Reno but I got a variance just to be here for this class. It means a lot to me,” he said.
Teacher Raul Hernandez brought the auto shop class back to Spanish Springs High School with a lot of hard work. The previous teacher resigned and the district couldn’t find a replacement for the 2022-2033 school year. Once Hernandez was hired, he spent his weekends collecting donated cars for the students to work on. He’s still looking for additional cars.
Hernandez transitioned from a mechanic early in his career to a middle school teacher. So teaching shop was a perfect fit for him.
“I made a life out of it, and I made a really, really good life. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but not this,” he said.
College isn’t for everyone and hands-on skills are in high demand.
Hernandez aims to inspire students to turn their skills into a profession. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics make an average of $50,000 a year and more for specialty work.
“Yeah, like $90,000 to $100,000 for what I want to work,” said SSHS Sophomore Jail Marquez. “My dream is to be a diesel mechanic.”
Meanwhile, Ryder Dixon sees the class as a stepping stone to entrepreneurship. “If I wanted to, I could go get my business degree from UNR and open my own shop here in town or somewhere else and help other people that don’t know how to do stuff,” he said.
Dr. Josh Hartzog, a private mechanic at Equality Automotive in Reno, emphasized the growing demand for skilled technicians. “There’s definitely a lot more need for high quality technicians as everything’s moving into electronics and electric cars, hybrid cars. You really have to know what you’re looking at more than just a mechanical vehicles,” he said.
The high school students learn the basic nuts and bolts in the auto shop class and can use those skills to advance in a potential career.
“Of the donated vehicles, they come with really cool problems for the kids to figure out, which is like gold,” said auto shop teacher Fred Moses.
Some students even have the opportunity to keep the cars they work on, thanks to Hernandez’s initiative to sell them back at affordable prices. The money goes back into the program.
“I saw the need for some students that actually do need the cars, so I donate them back to the students. Anything from one dollar to four hundred dollars, whatever they can afford,” Hernandez said.
The popularity of the auto shop class has prompted Spanish Springs High School to plan an expansion next year, ensuring more students can benefit from this unique educational opportunity.
Raul Hernandez is looking for more vehicles for his students to work on. To donate and receive a tax write off, contact Mr. Hernandez at [email protected]
Here is a list of the shop classes offered at nearly all the Washoe County High Schools:
Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology (AACT)
Aviation Technology (opening next year)
Engineering / Computer Integrated Manufacturing (transferring to Debbie Smith next year)
Metalworking (transferring to Debbie Smith next year)
Welding Technology (transferring to Debbie Smith next year)
Debbie Smith CTE Academy (opening in Fall of 2025)
Building Trades in Construction Technology
Engineering focused on Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Metalworking
Welding Technology
Damonte Ranch – The only high school currently without a shop class, as there were no facilities built there to sustain a program of this kind. When it was founded, DRHS was designed to focus its programs on Performing Arts, which is a theme that remains in place to this day (dance, theater, band, orchestra, choir)
Galena
Aerospace Engineering
Metalworking
Hug
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
Incline
Aerospace Engineering
McQueen
Building Trades in Construction Technology
North Valleys
Diesel Technology
Agriculture Welding, Power, and Structure Technology
Reed
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
Energy Technologies
Metalworking
Welding Technology
Reno
Architecture & Civil Engineering
Sparks
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
Spanish Springs
Automotive Technology
Wooster
Metalworking
link