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14 | Transportation Today Wisconsin™ Online Edition: www.transportationtodaywi.com

From the Garage to the Classroom: How One Teacher Is Driving Success in

McFarland’s Tech Ed Program

“I didn’t go to school to become a that was a big deal.” The department is also intentional about
teacher,” says the auto tech instructor, Brian The ASE offers exams to students as encouraging female participation. “We’ve
Hawn. “I went to school for automotive well, and the program boasts an impressive been working to improve representation. We
maintenance and spent years doing fleet main- 70% pass rate. “Students are really engaged in actively recruit female students to explore this
tenance for FedEx.” After coaching football these courses. They love the hands-on learn- pathway.”
at McFarland for three years, an opportunity ing.” Much of the program’s success, he says,
opened up in the tech ed department. “I was Students start with a freshman elective, is thanks to district support.
lucky enough to get this gig through an experi- Intro to Tech, and then move into hands-on “McFarland has really backed tech ed.
ence-based licensure program.” classes. The auto track begins with Air-Cooled We have the tools, the space, the safety equip-
With help from district administrators, Engines, then Autos 1, where students learn ment—everything we need to run this program
Hawn navigated the state’s alternative licen- practical skills like servicing brakes and professionally. That support from the district
sure pathway. “They gave me a checklist of tires. Autos 2 dives into electronics and drive makes all the difference.”
what to do and when,” he says. “I started on a systems. And for this not-so-traditional teacher,
one-year probationary license. Now I’ve got a But it’s Autos 3, the capstone class, that the reward is in the classroom. “What a joy it
five-year license, and I’m here to stay.” really shines. is to wake up and go to work every day. ‘We’re
The tech ed department currently includes “I’m proud of this class,” the instructor doing fuel injectors today—let’s go!’ The kids
three staff members, with Mr. Hawn focusing says. “It’s collaborative, project-based. We’ve are excited to learn. They want to be here.”
on automotive technology. Their program is done engine swaps and full rebuilds. One In McFarland, the road from the shop
not just about teaching—it’s about building of our biggest projects was taking a beat-up floor to the classroom is paved with opportu-
real-world skills that lead directly to employ- 1985 Chevy Corvette and turning it into a nity—and horsepower.
ment. A central part of that is their certification 400-horsepower off-road go-kart. The kids did
through ASE, the National Institute for Auto- everything.”
McFarland School District motive Service Excellence. Typically, 18-20 students enroll in Autos www.mcfarland.k12.wi.us
When you walk into the automotive tech “ASE certifies mechanics in the industry, 3, and each year, five to six go straight into the
classroom at McFarland High School, it feels but they also accredit high school programs. field, often before graduation through McFar-
more like a garage than a traditional class- It’s not easy to get certified,” he explains. land’s youth apprenticeship program.
room. That’s by design—and it’s thanks to a “When I started, our accreditation was about “That program is unbelievable. Kids earn
teacher who never expected to be here in the to expire, so we had to go through the full re- money, get credit, and work in real jobs, all
first place. certification process. We got it renewed, and while enrolled in my class.”

Driven to Succeed: Mukwonago High School’s Automotive Program Accelerates

Student Opportunities Continued from Page 1

nationally recognized certifications to help keep the program aligned with
not only help students stand out in the current industry practices. “Strong
job market but also generate alterna- industry support from local businesses
tive revenue for the district through like this dealership, combined with a
Career and Technical Education (CTE) strong local technical college, helps
Incentive Grant funding. “Through us maintain a high level of rigor and
equipment and monetary donations ensure we provide industry-ready skills
from local businesses, we are able to for our students,” Lehman emphasized.
train our students on industry-grade The program’s connection with the
equipment,” said Dustin Lehman, technical college also creates pathways
College & Career Readiness Coordi- for students beyond high school. Auto-
nator for the Mukwonago Area School motive students earn transcripted credit,
District. “This allows us to offer many allowing them to begin college with
ASE certifications, which in turn brings credits already in hand. In addition, the
alternative revenue back into our dis- college has generously donated multi-
trict that we can feed right back into the ple vehicles to Mukwonago’s program High School, which was named High
program to maintain high standards.” to support hands-on learning. School Program of the Year in 2020 and
Hands-on experience is central Mukwonago students showcase received national recognition in 2021.
to the program's philosophy. Many their skills each year in regional compe- With strong academic instruction,
students participate in Youth Appren- titions such as the ADAMM Technicians powerful community partnerships, and
ticeships with local auto dealers and of Tomorrow Competition and the a clear focus on industry alignment,
repair shops, gaining real-world knowl- WCTC Automotive Repair Competi- Mukwonago’s Automotive Program
edge and building relationships that tion, where they consistently perform is building more than skilled techni-
often turn into full-time employment well and gain exposure to postsecond- cians—it’s building futures.
after graduation. ary and industry representatives.
One of the strongest supporters of The success of the automotive
the program is a Chevrolet dealership in program is part of a larger tradition
Mukwonago, which has donated tools, of excellence within the Technology www.masd.k12.wi.us
equipment, and other vital resources Education Department at Mukwonago