Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Jan/Feb 2019 | Page 11

After two decades in the auto industry, first-year PRHS teacher trades in his shop for the classroom
For 21 years, Richard Webb
has worked as a technician in the
auto industry.
It’s a job that he enjoyed
and was passionate about for
more than two decades. But
after listening to his friends who
recently left the industry talk
about their rewarding careers
as teachers at Forest Hills High,
South Providence and Central
Academy of Technology and Arts,
Richard finally made the decision
to trade his automotive shop for a
Porter Ridge High classroom this
school year.
“College is not for everybody
and trade fields are fading by
the wayside. There is a real
technician shortage right now,”
he said. “I felt like I could take
this opportunity to pass my
knowledge on and build up
the next generation of not just
technicians but automotive
industry professionals.”
In his Automotive Service
class, Richard said his students
are learning about the different
types of careers in the
automotive industry as well as
personal safety before they begin to dive into more complicated
subjects and projects, such as engine service, steering and
suspension and more.
“I knew that I didn’t want to fill 90 minutes of class everyday
with just lecture. That’s why I try to break it up with lots of hands-
on and classroom activities,” he said. “This is very different and
new to me. But I have a lot of support here from other teachers
and it’s going great.”
What’s great about lateral entry teachers, like Richard, is that
they come into the classroom with years or decades of real-life
experience. This allows them to create lesson plans that connect
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their curriculum and real-world examples to bring industry-related
problem solving to the classroom.
One lesson that Richard wants his students to take away
from his class is the importance of collaborating and maintaining
mutually respectful relationships with other people. It’s an often
overlooked skill that is a necessity in any industry they choose to
go into, including the auto industry where Richard said he often
had to work with colleagues in other departments.
“Also, I know every student who signs up for my class isn’t
going to want to go into the automotive field, but everyone is
going to drive a vehicle. I just want the students to know what
to do if something happens while they’re on the road,” he said.
“Maintenance on vehicles is very expensive. I always tell the
students that the more they
learn how to do themselves,
the more money they will be
able to save in the future.”
Although school has only
been in session for a few
weeks, Richard said he’s
already talked with a student
who has expressed an interest
in the automotive industry.
Richard is now working
with the school’s Career
Development Coordinator
to find a way to connect the
student to an internship at a
local facility.
“It feels good to see a
student take an interest in
this field. Even with students
who have no plans to go into
this field, it’s great to see
the shock on their face or
excitement when they learn
to do something they’ve never
been exposed to,” he said. “To
have the opportunity to share
and pass on the knowledge
that I’ve gained – this is what I
want to do.”
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Parent Teacher Magazine • Nov/Dec 2018 • 9