Friday, March 29, 2024

North Garland offers country’s first high school Apple repair certification program

Image: treehugger.com

Reading, writing, arithmetic and Apple repair. North Garland High School now offers students the opportunity to graduate with an independent business plan. The campus is the country’s first to, not only teach students how to repair Apple devices, but certify them as well.

“Kids need skills that are employable and that they can grow,” said NGHS teacher Laura Aronson. “The Apple program offers many opportunities for students choosing to go to college or directly into the workforce.”

North Garland’s program began as an idea by Stacey Payton, Garland ISD’s MST Title 1 technology specialist. She broke the screen on her iPhone and encountered some tech-savvy teenagers while getting it replaced.

“They asked to buy the broken phone from me, so that they could fix and resell it,” she explained. “I thought of the NGHS computer maintenance class and wanted our students to be prepared to go into business, or start their own on the side, when they graduate.”

Payton also thought that certifying GISD students in Apple repair could have future benefits for the district. MST campuses use hundreds of Apple devices, and when their warranties run out, our students could eventually be able to fix them.

With the help of Theresa Williams, director of Special Programs, and Phil Gilbreath, director of Career and Technical Education, North Garland’s Apple repair certification program kicked off this school year.

“We asked Ms. Aronson if she was willing to get certified, then sent her to the training last summer,” said Payton. “CTE also helped purchase the needed equipment.”

Aronson’s class now teaches PC repair during the first semester and Apple repair during the second. The program is open to grades 10-12, and any student is able to sign-up for the Apple certification test in May. Those who pass will be licensed to work on both warranty and non-warranty devices. Aronson will also offer a second-year class starting in 2013-14, where certified students can begin repairing devices and those who need more practice for the test can receive it.

“Most people usually get their certification after college,” commented junior Raymond Ortiz. “Being certified in high school will help me attain job skills that I can use for my future sooner. It could even help me achieve my goal of having an internship with Apple.”

“I wanted to be part of this program because I think it will pave the way for future opportunities,” added senior Jaime Posada. “If I succeed at something that no other high school in the nation is doing, there will be no other goal that I will not be able to achieve.”

Ortiz and Posada are both signed up to take Apple’s certification test in May. Their registration fees were paid for by two members of the Garland Noon Exchange Club. Aronson was asked to speak at one of the club’s meetings and mentioned that several of her students would have a hardship paying for the exam. Two members in attendance agreed to sponsor a student each. They presented Ortiz and Posada with checks at NGHS in February, joking that they would come calling when their Apple devices needed repair.

“Having the support of the Garland community means so much to me,” commented Posada.” I know it sounds so simple to say that, but it really is an honor that a community I have lived in for the majority of my life is helping me achieve an opportunity that can change my whole future.”

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