November 6, 2023
By BARTON HENLEY
Rutherford County Schools
Presley Tucker is a senior who has taken all automotive repair classes available.
“I’ve always liked cars. Learning how to fix my own car structurally or visually is always rewarding for me,” Tucker said. “The classes I have taken have brought exposure to the career for me. I didn’t do know there were that many career options in auto body before I took these classes.”
Students from the auto body classes have gone on to own their own detailing business, study at Tennessee College of Applied Technology, and Lincoln College of Technology.
Noah Jackson sophomore at Stewarts Creek talked about what he has learned from his two years in the program.
“I really like the hands-on aspect of this. We actually get to learn a skill,” said Jackson. “I’d like to do something with cars. We actually got to learn how to professionally detail cars in our first year so I was able to walk away with that instantly.”
Teacher Christina Williams talked about how she has seen students go on to continue their knowledge of trade.
“As long as they’re walking away with a skill that can apply, I’m happy with that,” Auto Body teacher Christina Williams said.
Currently, there are three years of auto body classes offered at Stewarts Creek High.
These classes include introduction to collision, non-structural repair, and painting + refinishing.