Bullard-Havens Technical High School: 2018 School Of The Year -

Bullard-Havens Technical High School: 2018 School Of The Year

The 11th recipient of the annual award, Bullard-Havens Technical High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut, is getting students in the bays before and after graduation.

The technician shortage was one of the most talked about topics in 2018. So when searching for the 2018 School of the Year, sponsored by WIX Filters  and O’Reilly Auto Parts, we were on the look out for a school connecting students with employers. A school that was getting students in the bays before and after graduation.

Our 11th recipient of the annual award and only the fourth high school winner, Bullard-Havens Technical High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut, does just that.  Educating students for more than 100 years, Bullard-Havens wowed our judges for its ability to go above and beyond the classroom, inspiring and developing the technicians of tomorrow at the high school level. 

“This year, the drive and dedication of Bullard-Havens Technical High School stood out among the competition,” says Jennifer Gibson, brand manager for WIX Filters. “This is a school that’s passionate about providing a well-rounded technical education for its students. Through internship opportunities and state-of-the-art equipment for learning, students graduate from Bullard-Havens ready to begin a successful career in the industry.”

During the celebration at the school on Nov. 29, representatives from WIX Filters, O’Reilly and Tomorrow’s Tech congratulated automotive students and instructors Roxanne Amiot and Rob Ellis on their hard work and determination to train career-ready students.

“We are kind of a hidden gem in our state and when somebody looks at our program and says ‘Hey, you’re doing the right things, and we like what you’re doing, and we support you with an award like this,’ it’s just awesome. And, it just gives us more motivation to go on and keep doing it better,” says Roxanne Amiot, automotive instructor and department head at Bullard-Havens.

As the 2018 School of the Year, Bullard-Havens Technical High School won a $5,000 donation to the school’s automotive technology program from WIX Filters; merchandise from O’Reilly and WIX Filters; and travel for the school’s instructor and a guest to Las Vegas to attend Babcox Media’s recognition dinner.

WIX Filters and Tomorrow’s Technician honored Bullard-Havens Technical High School as the 2018 School of the Year on Nov. 29, during an awards ceremony at the school for students, community members and school faculty. Photo by Amy Cimino.

Training Techs Today

Eight hundred students walk the halls of Bullard-Havens to study 12 different skilled trades. Among those is Automotive Technology, which has 70 students from grades freshman to senior. All freshmen study each trade for three months before deciding which one to pursue. 

Once in the automotive program, students split time between the theory room, lab suite and the shop. Students also use Chromebooks with access to ProDemand, CDX, Snap-on, and SP/2 training.

Class sizes range from about 18-22 students. Grade 9 auto students will learn the basics of safety and sanitation, equipment and use. They will also learn all about careers in automotive. In Grade 10, students cover major systems like the engine and electrical. They also begin learning the operation and diagnosis process, brake systems, power assist units, ABS and traction control.

In Grade 11, students get more shop time where they work on automotive projects for customers while learning to diagnose and repair electrical components, chassis wiring, lighting, steering and suspension. This is the year students are also eligible for Work Base Learning (WBL) where they can begin apprenticing at local auto shops and new car dealerships who have a relationship with the school.

“I like the fact that we get hands-on experience. We don’t just learn to do book work,” says Brandon Spinks, junior automotive technology student. “We get to experience doing  suspension, like we’re learning right now, we got to work on brakes, brake jobs, and we get to learn soldering and electrical work. So we get a lot of different trades as we’re working on different parts of the car and that’s what I really like.”

Grade 12 students continue working on customer vehicles and learning more about engine management systems, vehicle emission training, transmissions, transaxles and rear axles, among other more technical systems. During the second half of senior year, students undergo an ASE National Student Assessment and complete a senior capstone project before graduation. 

In their four years, auto students will learn about all eight areas of the ASE Master Technician Service certification. The school will also help them buy $300-400 in tools with student discounts to get ready for work. They also practice interview skills during career fairs and WBL interviews.  Students also earn college credit to Gateway Community College where they can finish an automotive degree after high school.

“I’m a visual learner and I wanted to learn a trade instead of going to regular school,” says former auto student Rafael Hilario. “I currently work at the D’Addario Cadillac Buick GMC and I’m in the GM ASAP Program at Gateway Community College. I wanted to be a technician because I always liked cars growing up. I always wanted to know how they worked and what made them go.”

Jobs For Tomorrow

Automotive Technology head instructor Roxanne Amiot actually attended the school back in high school, switching from fashion to automotive technology after falling in love with working on cars. Today she brings that same enthusiasm to her students. Along with instructor Rob Ellis, the insturctors make getting students into the workforce a top priority, and put an emphasis on a family atmosphere.

“I just sit down with them at the beginning of the year and let them know that I’m here for them 100 percent,” says instructor Rob Ellis. “I’m with them more than I’m at home. So, why not call it a family right from the get go. So everything we do here is about family and about working together and looking out for each other.”

The school currently has a Trade Advisory Committee where 20 local businesses, dealerships and independent shops visit with the school twice a year to figure out what the school needs to do to get students working at their businesses. Every April, students have interviews with these businesses and prepare resumes and cover letters. The businesses then select students to job shadow for a day – which is their big interview. If all goes well the student moves on to WBL and gets paid to work in a shop instead of coming to school on shop days. 

Students got an up-close look at the WIX Filters rally car on display at the event.

“We’re very fortunate that we have many business partners in this area because a lot of our dealerships and businesses see the need now to help grow their own and to get their future workforce from our school,” says Roxanne Amiot, automotive technology instructor and department head. 

Former student Prisila Barroso is one of the many success stories of Bullard-Havens’ Work Based Learning program. After graduation, her WBL employer Jaguar Land Rover Fairfield hired her. When she completes her final month of training, she will be a level three associate at the dealership. 

“It was great actually,” Barroso says on learning her high school won School of the Year. “Females aren’t really in the field and so to be a female out of this program and to go work at Jaguar Land Rover, to go work at a dealership, it feels amazing.”

Students enjoyed a morning of celebration with WIX Filters, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Tomorrow’s Tech. Photo by Amy Cimino.

Junior auto student Barry Jean-Pierre currently works at D’Addario Nisson after working there as part of the WBL program. 

“One of my favorite things is that you can go to school and some days when you’re in the shop, you don’t have to come here. You go straight to work,” adds Jean-Pierre. “So it’s like working in school…. [WBL] was a great experience, and I learned a lot. It’s fast paced, real life, real customers, real cars.”

More About School of the Year

The School of the Year program is open to all high schools and post-secondary schools with a subscription to Tomorrow’s Tech magazine. The top 20 schools were asked to submit a video highlighting their technical programs and judges selected four finalists, or one from each region, from the video entries. Click HERE to nominate your school for the 2019 School of the Year.

Runners-up for the 2018 School of the Year included: Satellite High School, Satellite Beach, Florida; North Kansas City Schools – Career and Technical Education Center, Kansas City, Missouri; and Bonneville High School, Ogden, Utah.

Click HERE to watch our video all about Bullard-Havens.

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WIX Filters Names Chapel Hill High School 2023 School of the Year

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WIX® Filters, a global innovator and manufacturer of filtration products, in conjunction with Tomorrow’s Technician, has selected Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill, NC, as the 2023 School of the Year.

“We are honored to award Chapel Hill High School the 2023 School of the Year award. The commitment of the administration, staff and students is inspiring and impressive,” said Tina Davis, senior marketing manager for WIX Filters. “Through lesson plans emphasizing the integration of traditional classroom and lab classes to hands-on participation in motorsports activities, Chapel Hill is an exciting example of how to successfully support education.”

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