CCSD Pathway Profiles: Engineering Drafting and Design and Architectural Drafting and Design
Sequoyah High School’s Engineering Drafting and Design and Architectural Drafting and Design program teacher Brandon Grummer observes as sophomore Lilah Levine works on a design.
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 Engineering Drafting and Design and Architectural Drafting and Design, which is offered at Sequoyah High School and Etowah High School.
Through the Engineering Drafting and Design and Architectural Drafting and Design program, Sequoyah High School teacher Brandon Grummer helps students design successful futures.
The 16-year educator leads the Career Pathway program at Sequoyah High School, after previously leading the program at Etowah High School. He joined the faculty at Etowah after working in the field of structural engineering. “I made the career change after hearing of the job opening at Etowah High School and thought it would be something fun to try,” he said. “Sixteen years later, I couldn't imagine doing any other job!”
Students find the same joy in Mr. Grummer’s classes, with many advancing to related career fields. Mr. Grummer said his greatest success is seeing those students return to serve as professional members of the program’s advisory steering committee.
“Their feedback, expertise and experience in both post-secondary education and professional workplace environments ensure that our Pathway remains relevant with industry practice,” he said.
Career Pathway programs like his teach students valuable technical and soft skills, Mr. Grummer said, with the opportunity to earn industry recognized certifications. His students can earn certifications in two professional design software platforms – “programs which are usually taught at the college level,” he noted.
His favorite project each year is the American Institute of Architects High School Design Competition, through which students prepare and submit a solution to a design project, with specific criteria, designed by a team of professional architects. The entries are judged by industry professionals, and last school year, Sequoyah HS students placed in both the advanced and beginner divisions of the competition.
Senior Maggie Haggerty will use the knowledge she has gained through Sequoyah’s program to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.
“These courses have helped me become a much more creative thinker, which is extremely helpful as an inspiring engineer,” she said. “They also have helped me become more familiar with design process and how to do it, which will not only help me once I get to do projects in college or even the real world, but also in day-to-day life when I need to solve a problem or break down tasks.”
Within the Pathway, classes offered include: introduction to drafting and design, architectural drawing and design I, architectural drawing and design II, introduction to drafting and design, survey of engineering graphics, 3D modeling and analysis. Students can earn Autodesk Inventor Certified User and Autodesk Revit Architecture Certified User industry certification and can compete in state and national events such as the American Institute of Architects High School Design Competition.
This Pathway prepares students for careers including, but not limited to: architect, civil engineer, architectural drafter, urban and regional planner, landscape architect, architectural and engineering manager, mechanical engineer, mechanical drafter, civil drafter, electronic drafter, architecture professor, aerospace engineer, computer systems engineer/architect.
The average income range for careers in this Pathway in Georgia is $53,000 to $142,000. Local and area employers for this Pathway include, but are not limited to: Raydeo Enterprises Inc., Centerline Communications, Mohawk Industries, Nelson Worldwide LLC, KRH Architects, Manley Spangler Smith Architects, Schroeder Architects, Technical Data Analysis Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Crabapple Turf Management Inc., Alliance Engineering & Planning, Cherokee County and municipal governments.
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