Advanced Technical Center

Odessa and Permian High students attending classes at the Advanced Technical Center (formerly known as the Career Center) get a field trip of sorts every day.

Buses take students to and from the Technical Center each period of the day, creating a unique campus with students from different worlds coming together to learn career and technical skills.

"It's really interesting - when they were playing football the other day, some wore red jerseys and others wore black (or white)," Curtis Britt, Advanced Technical Center director, said.

The center has started to transition from a self-contained school to a support campus, providing advanced career and technical classes while OHS and Permian provide the core academic coursework. The Technical Center used to offer all classes to students, effectively functioning as an alternative high school. Now, only present juniors and seniors still take core courses at the ATC as part of a plan to phase in the changes.

Britt said opening up the courses allows students at OHS and Permian to pursue technology and career coursework without having to be on campus at the ATC all day. Some courses also currently provide college credit with Odessa College, and Britt said he plans to add courses from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

The center's focus includes a variety of pathway courses, including health careers such as pre-med or nursing, as well as computer technology certifications. Students can work in graphic design or even the district's television station. The center's Ready, Set, Teach program prepares students to become teachers, while culinary arts gives students a solid cooking foundation using a professional kitchen. To those participating in the programs, the approach seems better than taking core classes with a few random electives like some high schools.

"Here they break it down for you and will teach individually if someone doesn't get it," senior Alyssa Bustamant said.

Roughly 1,000 students are bused to the center every day, a big jump from last year's 300 students who were on campus at the center full-time. Around 200 full-timers remain as juniors and seniors. Most classes are two-hour blocks in order to offset roughly 15 minutes spent riding buses to and from the ATC. No bell announces the end of class since students are expected to watch the clock like they would at a job. Britt said the students typically follow the rules on heading to and from class on time.

Health science technology teacher Melissa Freeman moved to the center this year from teaching elementary students and sees her job as a way to grow with her students.

"It helps me to learn what I am teaching better and makes me so excited as the kids are excited and interested in what we are learning," Freeman said as she pointed to the "wall of weird" medical stories like a person struck by lightning multiple times.

Freeman is a registered nurse, and all health teachers at the center have a nursing background. Many of the teachers have a business background. For example, business law teacher Brenda Vizcaino worked in law enforcement for 12 years.

Three students recently appeared especially eager to start working on computer class 20 minutes early. The three boys stood outside the classroom's locked door after lunch waiting for it to be opened for them. Britt said students love working on their classes since they enjoy the content, though the information is often complex.

"These are classes with rigor, not courses for students wanting easy classes," Britt said.

Two teachers joked with students in the school's commons area during lunch. The center seemed ready for the change, to become a place for all ECISD students to have the opportunity to explore their future.

"It is one of the best-kept secrets we don't want secret so more come and participate," said Ian Roark, ECISD's director of career and technical education. 

SOME ATC FIELDS OF STUDY

>> Advertising.

>> Computer technician certifications.

>> Culinary arts.

>> Fashion/Interior Design.

>> Graphic Design.

>> Medical science (particularly Certified Nurse's Aid program).

>> Pharmacy Technician.

>> Ready, Set, Teach.

>> Television.