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Here is where we enter the GRCTC, and we can see that the Tech Center has a lot to offer; the halls split in several sections of the school depending on your career path.
GHS THOUGHTS ON the gilbreath-reed technology center
November 16, 2017
Michael SANDOVAL
Reporter
The Gilbreath-Reed Technology Center (GRCTC) is a recent school building that was added to the GISD district over the summer. The Tech Center allows students to engage in new programs and advanced-level courses along with participating in hands-on Business world experiences. The Center itself interacts with all seven schools in the GISD district. Because of this, the students that do attend the GRCTC come from all seven schools; where they all coexist within the courses that are being taken. The Center offers more than 90 advanced-level CTE (Career Technical Education) courses, for both juniors and seniors. Along with these courses are more opportunities for students including courses that were never offered before in architecture, business, marketing, robotics and more. With the GRCTC being fairly new to the district, I’ve gone and interviewed students and a teacher from GHS for their opinion on the new Center.
When asked about what he likes about the Tech Center in an Interview with Marcos Rodriguez (12th) he stated that, “I like the fact that it’s a new school and I’m glad to be able to enjoy it for my last year in High School.”
“More colleges will be interested in me, and it’ll help me out on figuring out what I would like to be in the future.” said Marcos when asked how he believe the tech center will affect his future. In an Interview with Taevan Fornasdoro (12th) he stated that “I think it’ll affect my future greatly, since I plan on majoring in some areas of the art Industry.”
When asked about the course he’s taking at the GRCTC, Taevan responded “The class I’m attending at the Tech Center is printing and imaging lab, where I take designs and apply them to different objects such as posters, cars, architecture, and more.” But with these amazing opportunities, there is of course one downside that has surfaced since students began to attending the GRCTC.
Though it isn’t too terrible the trouble was that whenever a home campus has a pep rally/assembly, students that are at the Tech Center: though are allowed to leave in order to attend, must provide their own ride back to campus. In an Interview with Johnny Tovar (11th) he stated
“Providing our own ride can be very inconvenient for many students, I wish there could be transportation back to our home campuses, for pep rallies and events.” While juniors and seniors are at the appropriate age to drive to school, not many students have their own vehicle. But even so Johnny is right alongside the other students, in stating that attending the GRCTC will have a positive outcome to their future. “It’ll have a very positive effect, so far I’ve been taught many lessons that I know will come in handy in the future, both in the work space and in daily life.”
Through these three interviews with these students, it’s been proven that the GRCTC does allow more opportunities for students as well as helping them prepare for the future. Along with these three students, I interviewed Mr. Pablo a teacher here at GHS. Mr. Pablo teaches Technology Applications at GHS, and Outdoor Power over at the GRCTC. When asked about the purpose of the GRCTC, Mr. Pablo stated
“I believe the most important part of the center is to give students opportunities to leave high school with dual credits for college, or allow them to enter the workforce with a jump on others for a career and not just a job.” With students taking advanced courses at the tech center, it allows them to have a small experience of the real world, since majority of teachers treat the class like a small business rather than a high school class.
“The tech center is something that schools have been missing for a long time; I’m not sure how many districts have the ability to give students a great range of careers to pick from.” This statement from Mr. Pablo just proves that the tech center is an amazing opportunity for students to have a nice head start towards their future.
Outside the Fashion Design Classroom, sits a student in one of the many break areas around the GRCTC; sketching and measuring transferring her concept from paper to fabric.
In one of the many break areas of the GRCTC, stands a display of a poster designed by the Graphic Design department for National Dallas Park Day; one of the first official projects of the GRCTC.
Through these interviews with the students and teacher, we see that the Tech Center is a unique opportunity that is great for the students of GISD. Attending the GRCTC is a wonderful opportunity that students, should consider taking. As we see it can have a very positive outcome towards the future.