CI North: Automotive Technology

Career Institute North (CIN), one of three Dallas ISD career institutes, is no ordinary high school. It’s an educational ecosystem where students delve into a number of practicum courses and graduate with up to four certifications in highly employable fields.

Automotive Technology at CIN

While many of us drive a vehicle every day unaware of its inner workings, students in the Transportation and Logistics cluster at Career Institute North are learning everything about the automotive industry from the engine itself to the repair, maintenance, and diagnosis of vehicle systems.

The Automotive Technology program is only available at CIN, and first-year teacher Diego Suarez is teaching his students everything he has learned from his prior experience in the automotive industry.

“Even if they don’t pursue an auto career, at least they can do their own oil changes or change their tires if they get stranded on the side of the road,” Suarez said. “Everything in this room is what you would see in most shops. This is actually nicer than a lot of shops. If you see it like this, it’s typically Lexus or higher-end manufacturers.”
Rather than learning through photos in a textbook, automotive students have the opportunity to work on engine components using different tools and handling cars on lifts, just as they would in a real-world scenario. Their teacher believes it's imperative that his students learn the basics of understanding and diagnosing a problem before they get their hands dirty.

“I tell them they have to know how things work before they can fix them because anyone can change parts, but not everyone can understand the complexities of a system and how it works as a whole,” Suarez said.

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CIN students spend half a day every other day immersed in a unique, innovative approach to education that sets them apart in the competitive job market. Classes are led by industry leaders with years of experience, and students learn through labs, internships, or independent study. CIN serves five Dallas ISD campuses: Conrad, Hillcrest, North Dallas, Thomas Jefferson, and W.T. White high schools.