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On April 30, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurman visited Aragon to ask questions about the Career Technical Education Engineering Technology Trade Multi-Craft Core Curriculum Program at Aragon for National Apprenticeship Day. The program, led by Engineering Technology teacher Arron Apperson, aims to prepare students to join a construction apprenticeship program after high school and gives hands-on training. It is the first of its kind in the district.
“Right now we have a bill, [Assembly Bill 821], in the legislature that would provide more funding for schools to have a hands-on lab, for students to learn about opportunities and trades,” Thurman said. “We think about robotics and [Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math] all the time. We’re trying to get a computer science graduation requirement in this state. We want our students to have access to all the great careers that exist.”
Superintendent Randall Booker, Jennifer Jacobson, San Mateo Union High School District Board Trustee, Queenie Hua, Career Technical Education and Career Coordinator, Bart Pantoja, San Mateo County Building and Construction Trades Council member, the Aragon Administration team, Apperson and various students taking the class joined the meeting to discuss the program.
“We’ve had the elevator constructors come in; we’ve had electricians come in, the roofers and waterproofers,” Apperson said. “When they graduate from this program, … they’ll have their [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] 10 card, and they’ll [know] first aid and [cardiopulmonary resuscitation], which allows them to go on to work sites and start working.”
The students explained what they are learning and why the program is important.
“We’ve gone on a lot of field trips, which I like doing,” said senior Brandon Lopez. “We get to meet a lot of people who show us how the job can be in real life.”
Members of Aragon Robotics, senior Adam Richter, senior Rocco Lamberti and junior George Tao, spoke about Aragon Robotics’ program, the competition this year and demonstrated the robot and its functions.
“We put a lot of time into doing this, but I think there’s just so much that students learn from this about collaboration and leadership,” Richter said. “We start off on the computer, and then eventually build it into the real thing in such a short time frame.”
The meeting then took place in the shop, where they toured the high-technology industry equipment while continuing to talk about the program and the impact trade opportunities can have on students.
“I’ve got one kid who was on probation,” Apperson said. “Now … he’s a plumber who’s running crews, and he’s got his welding license.”
Booker discussed the expanding CTE programs and how many people are working to promote CTEs, including instructors, union representatives, students, faculty and staff.
“That’s how you make it work with this collaborative teamwork and real interest and belief that when we talk about this well-rounded student, we’re not just talking about [Advanced Placement] courses or Visual and Performing Arts,” Booker said. “We want students to have these kinds of opportunities too, to find themselves, find their interests, find their passions.”
Hua shared how other schools attempted to start this program but failed, but the program at Aragon managed to survive.
“It happened to be the right time, the right piece, the right passion and the support of the district and the board,” Hua said. “We truly believe that it is important and given the recent corporate climate, … job stability, tuition-hiking, students [need to] evaluate whether they have other better options. By having this program at the high school level, we save students a lot of effort, a lot of time.”
The program is expanding from one to two classes next year at Aragon. Apperson and Hua are helping other schools in the district start the program as well.
