Getting Alpha Students into Collision Repair
At the recent 2024 SEMA Show, Ken Cook, an automotive instructor at Norwalk High School in Norwalk, California, talked with FenderBender and shared his journey and innovative efforts to attract middle school students to the collision repair industry.
Cook's story is one of tenacity and dedication. From a 2.2 GPA high school student to a respected educator, Cook's path was anything but conventional. After high school, he joined the military and later found his passion in automotive collision repair at Cerritos Community College. His journey led him to become an instructor, where he now focuses on nurturing the next generation of automotive technicians.
The Alphas
One of Cook's significant challenges has been attracting high-quality students to his program. He noticed a decline in the aptitude and achievements of his students over the years. To address this, Cook has been working on creating a specialized cohort of top-performing students.
"I want to create one particular class of about 25 students that I'm going to have every year. I want to create one class of true alphas, a true varsity special forces, whatever you want to call it, the top of my program, and get them in one class," Cook said. His goal is to engage these students early, even before they reach high school, by offering enticing programs that compete with other popular fields like biomedical and computer science.
How do I reach these kids?
Cook's novel approach includes applying for grants to create mobile workstations and spray booths that can be taken to career fairs and community events. "The experience is what these kids want. They want to actually roll up their sleeves and get involved," he said. These hands-on experiences are designed to spark interest in young students and give them a taste of what a career in collision repair could be like. Despite facing funding challenges, Cook remains determined to provide these opportunities for his students.
It’s no wonder why he and his school were awarded $7,500 from CREF’s 2024 Benchmark Grants, thanks to direct donors CCC and Enterprise Mobility.
The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) Benchmark Grants are awarded to schools to support their collision repair programs. These grants are funded by various industry partners and are intended to help schools improve their teaching materials, tools and equipment, and overall program quality. The goal is to ensure that students graduate with the necessary knowledge and skills to fill entry-level positions in the collision repair industry.
In 2024, CREF awarded $536,000 in Benchmark Grants to 80 collision schools, benefiting over 4,000 students.
Cook is one of many instructors who were recognized for their dedication to their students.
Cook's work goes beyond the classroom. He and his students participate in numerous community service events, providing essential support to local families in need. This holistic approach to education emphasizes not only career readiness but also community engagement and civic responsibility.
Special skills
In addition to his work to attract middle schoolers, Cook is also dedicated to working with special needs students. At Norwalk High School, nearly 40% of his students are special needs learners, a significant portion compared to the school's overall demographic. Cook's inclusive approach ensures that these students receive the support they need to succeed. He tailors their learning experiences to their abilities, providing them with essential skills that can lead to meaningful employment.
"For me, the whole special ed factor is really personal. I believe strongly in it, but at the same time, there's also a huge void that we're not completing, and that's putting out quality technicians," Cook emphasized.
Currently, Cook has two students with Down syndrome. He acknowledges that their career options are often limited to custodial jobs. Cook explained that certain tasks common in the collision repair process require similar dexterity to those of a janitor. For example, sanding is similar to power scrubbing, and both custodial work and collision repair involve cleaning glass.
One of Cook's success stories is Anthony, a student with autism who exceeded expectations by earning three certificates from Cerritos Community College and securing a job at Rusty's Automotive, also in Norwalk.
"People will rise to the occasion if you give them enough credit," Cook said. His dedication to his students, regardless of their abilities, highlights his commitment to providing every student with the opportunity to succeed. "Every morning, he wakes up and he has a purpose. He goes to work, and honestly, that should be the goal for every kid that we have here."
