NEISD electrical students use skills to help community

Mud and rain can stop a lot of people in their tracks, but that’s not the case for kids from NEISD’S Construction Technology Academy.

These electrical students are lending their skills to a worthy cause. 

“Basically, what we are running are the home-runs, so we’re getting one wire and we’re running it to the circuit breaker,” a student explained.

Eduardo Del Toro is an electrical instructor.

He’s experienced and credentialed and has been teaching for fourteen years, first at MacArthur High School and now at the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC).    

“Today, the kids are working at habitat for humanity. They are roughing in three houses which means they are actually pulling the wires for the switches, plugs, lights, garbage disposal, kitchen outlets, things like that,” Del Toro said.

Seventeen-year-old Benjamin Pena has been in the program for four years.

“I wasn’t expecting to do it for four years but I ended up sticking with the program because I really liked what I was doing and I liked how as soon as I graduate, I’ll already have the title as apprentice, so I’ll have a head start on the field,” the MacArthur Senior said.

Del Toro said having a place for students to be able to hone their trade skills is very important to some students and parents.

“Sometimes, college isn’t for them and they like to work with their hands, so we give them the opportunity to find a good skill and a nice paying job to earn a good living with the skills that they have and the skills that they learn in our classes,” he said.

Del Toro also said there’s a high demand for skilled electricians to enter the workforce, with many of the older generation workers starting to retire.

“It’s a real-life environment that they have to put their learning skills to work and overall, they give back to the community. I think it’s very important that they learn that this house somebody is going to actually live in,” he said.

The students have helped wire about fifty Habitat for Humanity homes over the past twelve years.

Benjamin said he’s happy to be using his skills to give back to the community.

“I like how we’ve actually seen the progress of people actually moving into the homes and enjoying them, decorating them and painting how they want. You get more of an appreciation for the work you do and that you’ll be helping a family out,” he said.  

Mr. Del Toro said it’s been amazing to see his students blossom over the years.

“I enjoy seeing the kids come into the program not knowing anything and after the four years they walk away and they have the experience under their belt. Some of the companies hire our boys right out of high school, so it’s a great feeling knowing that these kids are ready for life when they walk out of our program.”

To learn more about North East ISD’s Construction Technology Academy, click here: https://www.neisd.net/page/23481

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio, click here: https://www.habitatsa.org/

Discover the NEISD way, where our educators embrace new teaching methods and encourage students to build their own path.