CCSD Pathway Profile - Transportation: Collision Repair - Painting and Refinishing

Etowah High School Career Pathway teacher Marc Giuliano assists Transportation: Collision Repair - Painting and Refinishing students, junior Avery Poehlein, center, and sophomore Ethan LaGasse, with a problem during class.

The Cherokee County School District offers 38 Career Pathway high school programs, which provide students with a wide selection of job exploration and preparation electives.  Through CCSD Pathway Profiles, we’ll regularly share highlights with you from one of these programs.  This week’s profile focuses on Transportation: Collision Repair - Painting and Refinishing, which is offered at Etowah High School, with Cherokee HS and Sequoyah HS offering other automotive programs …

Etowah High School teacher Marc Giuliano’s favorite times in class are witnessing his students’ “aha” moments.

And for his students in the Career Pathway program focused on Transportation: Collision Repair - Painting and Refinishing, those moments can lead to future career decisions. 

“My favorite activity is any activity when a student has an ‘aha’ moment when everything becomes clear with what I am teaching them,” said the 19-year teacher in his 10th year teaching automotive classes at Etowah HS.  “Once that happens, their excitement, enthusiasm and learning skyrockets.”  [Click here [CONTENT_REVIEW InternalLink] to see more photos from his classes.]

Senior Enzo Vivanco has had those “aha” moments and now plans to pursue a career in the automotive industry.

“This class helps prepare me for such a career,” he said.  “This class also helps me develop my problem-solving skills, which can be used in most applications.  This class also helps build teamwork skills and teaches me how to work well with others.”

Mr. Giuliano, who also serves as a mentor for the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow extra-curricular program, said while many students have advanced to careers in the automotive industry, others have used the skills for other paths. 

“One student liked cars but didn’t like fixing them, but because of my shop, she found out that she liked welding,” he said, noting the program includes automotive, welding, machining, AutoCAD and CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) programing.  “Fast forward two or three years, she is now a phenomenal welder and has settled in at Waste Management as their compactor box repair welder.”

Mr. Giuliano’s first career was in mechanical engineering, working to design and build equipment for the automotive industry.  He enjoyed mentoring new employees, and saw education as a possible next career.

“I felt I would be able to help kids be more prepared for the transition to industry, instill good work ethics and good communication skills,” he said.  “Not all students are university bound or have the desire to be theory based.  Career classes are ideal for students who are hands-on and visual people.  My program can help these students make educated decisions after exploring different disciplines in my program.”

Within the Pathway, classes offered include: introduction to collision repair, painting and refinishing I and II.  Students can earn Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) industry certifications.  They can compete in SkillsUSA state and national career skills contests.

This Pathway prepares students for careers including, but not limited to: collision body repair technician, automotive specialty technician, transportation equipment painter, repair planner, autobody appraiser, collision estimator.

The average income range for careers in this Pathway in Georgia is $41,000 to $58,000.  Local and area employers for this Pathway include, but are not limited to: Cherokee County Toyota Collision, Atomize Collision & Customs, Gerber Collision and Glass, Krause Family Ford, Service King, AutoNation Collision Center Marietta, Group 1 Automotive, Caliber Collision, Classic Collision, Chloe's Auto Repair and Tire, Elliot Aviation Inc.

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