Automotive Technology

Mr Cooper photoMr. Cooper began his career in the automotive industry in 1982.  He has been a Master ASE Technician since 1988, working his first 12 years in the service department of an Oldsmobile Cadillac dealership.  He has also worked at Keesler Air Force Base, and has owned  his own business.  Before coming the Career & Technical Center in 2013, Mr. Cooper worked for 5 years as an auto tech instructor at MGCCC and led his program through the NATEF accreditation process. 

Since coming to the Career Tech Center, Mr. Cooper led this program to NATEF accreditation.  Students may take the ASE certification exam, and completion of the 2-year program counts as one year of field experience required for an individual's ASE certification.

Mr. Cooper has received his 25+Year Master ASE Technician award.  The award is a testament to his career dedicated to excellence, as both an automotive technician and an instructor.

Mr. Cooper was originally certified as an ASE Master Technician in 1988, after passing the rigorous certification exams in all eight certification areas and completing the required experience in the field.  ASE Technicians are required to re-test every five years to maintain certification.

 The National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence was founded in 1972 to provide credentialing for automotive service industry technicians.  Since its inception, ASE has certified 300,000 technicians in all related automotive trades.  Mr. Cooper is one of 74,304 Master Automotive Technicians that have been certified.

In addition to his Master ASE certification, Mr. Cooper is also COOLS and VIP certified.

Mr. Cooper teaches his students by example.  He won't ask any student to do anything that he wouldn't do himself.  He says,"  If it's worth fixing, it's worth fixing correctly.  Treat every vehicle like it's yours."


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We got some pretty good answers when students were asked,

”Why did you choose your Career & Technical program?”

 

Auto Technology

 

"I can follow in my dad's footsteps doing something I love.  One day I want to work with my father in our own shop."  Emily Arnold, Harrison Central Class of 2023

"I took a Career Tech program to improve the skills that I already have.  I hope to use what I learn in the job I want after high school.  I plan to enlist in the Army and be a tank technician or humvee technician."  Rex Tootle, D'Iberville Class of 2022

"I chose his program because of the fundamentals as a class that would actually teach me something that I could use on a day-to-day basis.  I can use the skills that I've been taught by knowing how to work on a vehicle without having to bring it to someone."  Hunter Smith, West Harrison Class of 2022  

"[I want] to learn more about automobiles and be able to repair my vehicle whenever I need to save money.  Maybe I can be an auto technician and get a good job."  Caleb Wood, D'Iberville Class of 2022

"One day in later life I want to be able to open up a shop and have the skills and learning to be able to do so.  And this program is doing just that."  Jacob Neumeirer, West Harrison Class of 2021

These careers are things I enjoy and want to build my own career off of.  This class is exactly what I want to do for college as well as for my life."  Lucas Ladner, Harrison Central Class of 2021

“I don’t mind getting my hands dirty.  I chose the auto class because the world runs on automobiles, so I want to learn how to work on them.”  Scarlett Buck, Harrison Central Class of 2018

 

“I love to work on cars and trucks, and I want to become a mechanic.”  Austin Brock, West Harrison Class of 2019

 

“I love to work with cars.  I want to one day be an Automotive Engineer.”  Koby Ngo, D'Iberville Class of 2018