ONTARIO – Step inside Rich Lewis’ auto maintenance and repair shop at Ontario High School, and you will quickly forget that you’re surrounded by students. There’s a small group repairing brakes, another replacing an alternator and vehicle charging system, and yet using computer technology to inspect an engine – all under the tutelage of Lewis, who has been teaching auto mechanics at OHS for the past 12 years.
“I tell my students that if nothing else, this class is going to make you a good consumer. When you get your car repaired, you’re going to have an idea what they’re telling you,” Lewis says.
But it’s potential career opportunities that drive many of his students to his working classroom on the south end of the OHS campus. The California Employment Development Department projects roughly 60,000 job openings for automotive service technicians and mechanics statewide over the next decade, much of that driven by retirements and more specialized skillsets needed to work on today’s more technologically advanced vehicles.
The OHS program is widely regarded as one of the strongest in the region. It is Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-accredited, meaning graduates are well-prepared to enter the workforce. In addition, Lewis has developed strong partnerships with local auto dealers and maintenance shops, which allows students to receive hands-on experience when not in school.
“Relationships in the automotive industry are definitely a big deal. Professionalism is something I try to stress with the students – to make sure they’re ready to go out in the work world,” Lewis says.
OHS offers beginning and advanced classes in automotive technology, available to students throughout their four-year high school careers. Thirty-five students are currently enrolled in the advanced classes.
“An automobile has so many different functions. It’s sort of like an endless learning experience,” says Rodrigo Arenas, a senior at OHS who plans to pursue a career in automotive technology.
Fellow senior Noah Armenta puts it even simpler: “I love cars,” he says.
It’s not all about wrenches and gearboxes, either. Lewis spends a good deal of time teaching students the importance of communication and safety.
“We’re going to spend more time on safety than anything else,” he says. “And you have to be able to communicate well, whether verbally or in writing. To be able to communicate with a service advisor, or if you are a service advisor, to communicate well with customers. We try to make them well rounded.”
The automotive program at Ontario High School is part of a broader commitment by the Chaffey Joint Union High School District to provide students the opportunity to learn about 21st century career opportunities.
“It’s so rewarding to see students light up when they come across a career opportunity that fits with their sense of purpose. It’s our responsibility, and our commitment, to make that happen,” says Dr. Mathew Holton, superintendent of the Chaffey District.
