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ASE Certification at Whitewater High School

He made the move because he saw an
opportunity to become involved with program
development, which, he said, offered some
rewarding challenges, and the school had a
larger automotive shop.
While serving in the School District of
Fort Atkinson and in an earlier interview with
Fort Atkinson Online, Buntrock said his inter-
est in the automotive industry was nurtured by
his father, whom, he said, wanted he and his
brother to have self-sufficiency when it came
to their vehicles.
“My old man was a mechanic for about
15 years before I was born … He taught me
about mechanics,” Buntrock said in the earlier
interview.
Buntrock said his brother chose a career
in the automotive field, but he was drawn to Congratulations to Whitewater High
teaching. School Technology Education teacher,
As an automotive instructor, he said, he Mike Fellin, for receiving the 2025 WTEA
found a way to use both sets of skills. Spirit Award!
As a teacher, he noted, he finds helping Each year, the Wisconsin Technol-
Students who take the automotive classes in the industry, but those who take his classes students develop a career path equally as ogy Education Association recognizes
offered at Whitewater High School can earn and earn certification will have opportuni- inspiring as giving them the ability to become educators and industry professionals who
ASE certification in addition to learning auto ties to save money because they will be able self-reliant. demonstrate exceptional service and dedi-
mechanics and shop-based skills. to perform some of their own work on their Supporting the tech ed program cation to technology education.
“The ASE certification is a nationally rec- vehicles. Along with supporting his students, Well done, Mike!
ognized certification and an industry standard “It benefits them in real-world life,” he Buntrock said he wanted to embrace an oppor-
for most mechanics in the industry,” according said, adding that he likes to say: “life skills and tunity to develop tech ed programming. to grow the department into a place through
to teacher, Justin Buntrock. career readiness.” Within the Whitewater Unified School which they can “give our students the best
He described the exams taken by his stu- The ASE provides both, he said. District, he said, he was impressed by the level learning opportunities we can.
dents as “very content heavy on theory and While all of his students are given an of support for the tech ed program, and for “We are on the right track,” he said.
automotive repair skills and knowledge.” opportunity to take the ASE exams, not every- embracing opportunities brought through the Within the tech ed environment they have
Buntrock said he steers his students one passes them, he stated. Students can try ASE certification process, which, he noted, collectively envisioned, Buntrock said, the
toward achieving the ASE certifications again any time before June. can help support his automotive classroom focus is on safety, while offering a “creative,
because, “it’s just a really good opportunity to Some students are drawn to the certifi- budget. career-oriented and life-skills-oriented area for
get a foot in the door to start a career in the cation opportunities because they are likely He made reference to the “Carl D. growth.”
automotive field,” further describing the certi- considering a career in the field or have auto- Perkins: Strengthening CTE (career and tech- As he looks toward the future of the
fications as “a good resume builder.” motive backgrounds in their families. nical education) for the 21st Century Act,” Whitewater High School tech ed department,
Among the students who take his classes, It’s a history that Buntrock shares. which, according to information found on the he said: “I’m most excited about the oppor-
he said, “some will go into the workforce or Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction tunities I know I can provide my students
will go to school for an automotive career, and A new automotive teacher (DPI) website, was re-enacted in 2018 and through the support of the administration and
the ASE certification is an almost guaranteed Prior to joining the Whitewater High set in motion in 2019 to serve as a mechanism the district.”
in.” School staff, he served for five years as an used to establish regional pathways, increase Now, over a year in, he said, he feels con-
Still, he said, not every student who automotive shop teacher at the Fort Atkinson the rigor of work-based programs, improve nected to his students.
takes automotive classes is planning a career High School. “Everything feels good, and strong,” he
student performance through focused activi-
ties and support, and expand nontraditional said.
occupations, among other goals. The federal
program is grant-based and facilitated at the
state level.
Buntrock described opportunities made
available through the program as “substan-
tial.”
Information about the program as pre-
sented on the DPI website is here: https://dpi.
wi.gov/cte/carl-perkins.
Growing the program
Looking at the success of the high
school’s tech ed program, Buntrock said he whs.wwusd.org
arrived at a time of change, and while a foun-
dation was in place, he saw room for growth.
As a teacher who is newer in the district, This is part of a larger article by Kim
Buntrock said he has spent time building rela- McDarison for the Fort Atkinson Online.
tionships and rapport with his students, and he Reprinted with permission.
and the other teachers have worked together