Pima AZ JTED Grows CTE Program
Pima JTED is a public Career and Technical Education District which works with 14 member public school districts to provide premier CTE programs to sophomore, junior, and senior level high school students. Research shows that students who complete a Career and Technical Education program have far greater success than their peers.
Innovation Tech High School is offering a new course this Fall, which focuses on automation and robotics. Enrollment is available to sophomores, juniors and seniors.
“This Fall is our first cohort of future roboticists,” said Pima JTED Automation and Robotics Instructor, Reginald Brooks.
Brooks will teach his class the basics of operating and repairing robots. He said these skills are valuable because many companies are now using robots on a regular basis. He also added that demand for qualified workers is high.
“Students could pursue any type of job that involves automation and manufacturing. Amazon has robots that move around the floor. They move merchandise from one point to another. There’s also the automotive industry and aerospace,” said Brooks.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an entry-level electro-mechanical technician makes $28.75 an hour on average.
“It comes out to about $53,000 per year, which isn’t bad for a kid right out of high school,” said Brooks
Students will leave Pima JTED’s automation and robotics class with an industry certificate. How they use it is up to them.
“My goal for this program is to have students graduate out of robotics and automation and go out in the industry or get an advanced degree. Who knows, maybe we’ll have someone on Mars one day,” said Brooks.
The Pima JTED Career and Technical Education District offers premier, tuition-free CTE programs to sophomores, juniors and seniors. We serve students from public, private, and charter schools, and students who are home-schooled. Pima JTED also serves students who have not earned a diploma or GED and are under the age of 22. Students may attend Pima JTED classes at one of our Central Campuses, located throughout Pima County, or at one of our satellite locations which are located at all public high schools in Pima County, Santa Cruz Valley, Nogales, and in Mammoth San Manuel. 2855 W. Master Pieces Dr., Tucson, AZ 85741