A look down the trades and career tech path

RATHDRUM — Unless a zombie apocalypse happens, people will always need computers.

And they're always going to need people to fix them.

“This is a great career to get into as far as job security," Jason Green, computer repair and networking instructor for Kootenai Technical Education Campus, said Thursday to eighth graders visiting from Woodland Middle School.

KTEC's computer repair and networking is a two-year program designed for students who wish to enter the computer technology field as trained technicians. They'll learn basic skills needed to repair and maintain computer systems and will become versed in a variety of hardware and software installation and operating systems.

It’s dual credit, so high school students can receive credits at North Idaho College or Lewis-Clark State College while enrolled in the course, Green said.

"You’ll be prepared to take a certification exam, a piece of paper you can take to your employer and say, ‘I completed this class and I passed this worldwide recognized certification, please employ me,’" he said to the middle schoolers. "It can help you get your first job."

Woodland sent more than 250 eighth graders to KTEC to introduce them to the campus and the many programs and opportunities that await them if they go to KTEC as high schoolers. Canfield and Lakes eighth graders have already toured the campus.

KTEC is a public school district cooperative of three school districts: Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland. KTEC construction was supported by a $5.37 million, two-year plant facility that passed in 2010 with more than 65% of voter approval. The three school districts share the cost of operating KTEC, with the largest district, Coeur d'Alene, paying $600,000 of its supplemental levy funding to KTEC — about half the cost — and the other two smaller districts making up the difference.

The campus is open to juniors and seniors from area high schools who have completed at least six high school credits and have good attendance. Homeschool students are also welcome.

“This is definitely a good place to go if you’re looking for a trade school for free," eighth grader Coen Tyslau said.

This was his first time visiting KTEC. He said he was interested in the welding, auto mechanic and computer programming courses.

“It’s definitely something I want to do when I’m a junior," he said.

In light of the recent levy failures in Coeur d'Alene and Lakeland, Coen said he feels KTEC is something the community should support.

"I still take a bunch of music classes and the levy affects that part as well," he said. "This is a great place for people to get started in certain areas of life. If you want to start welding, this is one of the places to start.”

Registered nurse and instructor Kathy Gale talked with students about the experience they'll gain if they enroll in the health occupations program at KTEC.

"In year one, you learn about anatomy and physiology, like bones in the body, how your skin works, your brain works, your heart works,” she said. "When you’re here two years, you get to dissect both a (sheep's) heart and an eyeball."

Auto instructor TJ Robertson shared how auto students work on cars and trucks, but most importantly, they need to keep up their grades and attendance.

“Who thinks you have to have good grades to come here to KTEC?” he asked as a few students raised their hands. “If somebody’s told you something different, they’re wrong. You do have to have good grades."

Eighth grader Ryker Hoover said it was really cool to visit KTEC.

"I really want to go here during high school,” he said. “Definitely automotive.”

Woodland eighth grade teacher Azure Wilson said in the past, a KTEC field trip was geared toward students who were already showing an interest in trades and career tech pathways. This year, all eighth graders had the opportunity to see what this community commodity is all about.

“This is a really great opportunity for everyone, no matter what demographic, to check it out,” she said.

She said she would hate for this opportunity for students to be lost.

“No matter what your viewpoint on certain things that are going on in the district, we’re trying to make our efforts and support and opportunities for the kids because they're going to want to come back and do these jobs," Wilson said.

These kids will become North Idaho’s carpenters, business owners, mechanics and computer programmers, she said.

“These are the kids that are going to bring this stuff back for us as adults, and if we don't provide this for them, we’re going to lose them to other states, big cities and they’re not going to want to grow their families here,” Wilson said. “We want to show them this is just as important as all the other electives."

Visit ktectraining.org for details.