Position: Auto Shop Teacher
School: James A. Garfield High School
School District: Los Angeles Unified School District
City, State: Los Angeles, CA
Carlos Villarreal was nominated by an anonymous colleague.
Mr. Villarreal is the only auto shop teacher at Garfield. His award-winning auto shop program teaches students everything from basic car repairs like changing a tire and changing the oil, to taking apart an engine and putting it back together again. Under his leadership, students have been recognized for their outstanding work in local competitions. Mr. Villarreal takes the time to run an after-school program for students interested in learning advanced skills so that when they graduate, they are ready for the work force in automotive repair. In an era where all students are pushed to go to college, it's great to have someone like Mr. Villarreal offer an advanced class after school so that his students can make a living in the automotive repair field if they choose to do so.
Mr. Villarreal also volunteers his time during lunch to work with students who want to learn advanced techniques in automotive repair. Many of the students that go through his program save money by being able to do basic repairs for their families. Some go on to work in the automotive industry, and others are influenced to pursue careers in automotive engineering.