October 16, 2023
By BARTON HENLEY
Rutherford County Schools
Elijah Messick, a junior at Central Magnet School, hopes to one day turn his passion for video games into a career.
That’s why he loves the Advanced Placement computer science course offered at Central Magnet School.
“We’ve learned how to make a computer application this year,” Messick said. “I’m really interested in video game design, so what I have learned here will definitely help me in my career.”
Robert Brindos — who has taught for 15 years and has been at Central Magnet for the past two — is the computer science teacher at Central. The intent of the program, he said, is to allow students have opportunities to create using the tangible skills they acquire.
“The purpose of career and technical education is to not only to give students a theoretical understanding of what it looks like to use computer science in the world, but to give them hands-on experiences using what they learn in my class,” Brindos explained.
The course is part of Rutherford County Schools’ “Career Ready” program, which pairs teachers who have industry expertise with students who are passionate about various career pathways.
“Career and technical education teachers make huge commitments to their students,” Brindos said. “We want to make sure they have opportunities to get real-life, hands-on experience doing something they can use for the rest of their lives.”
Anshu Amraotikar, another junior at Central Magnet, is in his second year of computer science classes at the school.
“I’ve loved being able to learn more about coding and computer science,” Amraotikar said. “It has helped me to solidify my career path of working in the medical field.”
Three other district schools — Oakland, Rockvale, and Stewarts Creek— offer computer science courses including introductory courses and coding classes. Currently, Central is the only school in the district offering an AP level of the course, which allows students to receive college credit.