Diego Tejeda’s interest in cars began at a young age. Whenever he saw his dad working on one, he wanted to get involved. “He used to always tell me that when I was little, I used to take away the tools from him and work on [the cars] myself,” shared Diego.
Now, as a junior at Jurupa Valley High, Diego is furthering his skills alongside students who share his passion for automotive services.
Systems Diagnostics, Service, and Repair is a CTE pathway at JVHS that consists of two courses: Auto I and Auto II. Auto I is an introduction to automotive technology. Students learn the basic principles of how an automobile works and the focuses include tire mounting and balancing; the hydraulic brake system; the cooling system; and engine fundamentals.
Auto II is the advanced course. Students perform repairs on staff members’ cars or cars that have been donated to the program. “We do everything from basic servicing to engine rebuilding,” said Richard Leach, CTE teacher.
Mr. Leach, who was named Teacher of the Year by Jurupa Valley’s VFW Post 10267, teaches six periods of auto classes. For Auto II, he prefers to put his students in groups so they can collaborate on projects, believing they learn better by working together. The course is mostly hands-on, and Mr. Leach allows his students to take the lead.
“The best project I've done was installing an air suspension kit on one of the Honda Accords. It was pretty cool because we did it as students,” said Kevin Sanchez, senior. “Mr. Leach was there to monitor everything and if we needed help, we could call him, but we mostly did all the work.”
Kevin and his fellow students appreciate that when they need help or make a mistake, Mr. Leach explains the process step by step so they can learn from the experience. He does not only tell them what process to follow but also why it is important to follow, most notably when it comes to safety procedures. “When they master the task, when they can do it and figure things out, that's what I really enjoy about it,” shared Mr. Leach.
Students who complete the pathway have the necessary skill set for a job in the automotive industry. They can also put the skills they have developed toward college or trade school courses. “Personally, I love cars,” shared Brandon Ramirez, junior. “I love getting my hands dirty, and it’s a career that I’ve always wanted to do. I would like to own my own shop - my own name, my own cars.”
Mr. Leach aims to provide a fun, safe environment where students of all experience and interest levels may learn and grow together. His success is evident in the success of his students. Many of Mr. Leach’s former students work in local repair shops, and some have even gone on to work for JUSD.
“The best part about working in the auto shop is seeing all my classmates learning together and helping them,” said Diego. “Also working on different cars. It’s a new project every day.”
