Joseph Cosby is the new director for the Allen County Career and Technical Center (ACCTC). Cosby was chosen last week to replace Adonica Spears, who recently retired after 27 years with the Allen County School District.
“I’m happy to have this position,” Cosby said. “This is something I have worked toward and spent many long hours preparing for.”
Cosby steps into the director’s role after almost 14 years as the automotive technology instructor at the school. His ascension to the position completes a long-time dream that began with Cosby’s own experience as a student in auto shop classes in the old Allen County Vocational School in the early 1990s.
“When I was in high school, I had Michael McClure for automotive classes,” Cosby explained. “I would always aggravate him and say, ‘when you get ready to retire, I want you job.’ He would laugh and say you don’t want this job. He actually stayed true to his word because he always said if he ever decided to leave, I would be the first to know. So in August of 2001, I was working at Bluegrass Truck and Trailer as a diesel mechanic and sales. Mr. McClure came in and said he had just resigned. So 10 minutes after he told me that, I left work and went to the Board of Education and applied.”
Cosby was able to apply for the position based on Kentucky Department of Education guidelines for technical education---guidelines which allow years of experience in a technical field (such as automotive technology, industrial technology, health sciences, or computer-aided drafting) to substitute for classroom-based teacher training. Cosby’s extensive background in auto mechanics met the necessary requirements. After going through the application and interview process, Cosby was hired. On December 10, 2001, Cosby walked into auto shop as the new instructor.
“They handed me the keys and I more-or-less jumped in with both feet,” Cosby said.
Not only was he in the classroom helping students learn engine repair and maintenance, Cosby also became a student again. He would earn a degree in Career and Technical Education and later a Masters in Vocational Education. Cosby also has a Masters in Teacher Leadership and is in the final phase of work to obtain his principal’s certification.
Cosby’s time in the shop has opened his eyes to the needs of today’s students---including the students’ need to learn about the multiple opportunities available for high school graduates with have training in technical education.
“I see the demographics of the students we have in school in Allen County,” Cosby explained. “Not all of our students are going to go to a four-year college. A lot of the students don’t know what exists out in the world in terms of higher technical education. They think that they will just go into factory work. The Allen County Career and Technical Center gives students the opportunities to learn and discover career options. I have had students not knowing what they wanted to do as sophomores who leave as seniors and go into the automotive field or welding field. I have others that have gone onto colleges like Lincoln Tech or Nashville Auto-Diesel. The students learn about opportunities.”
The new director is quick to point out that he feels like the sky’s the limit for students coming through the Career and Technical Center. Yet, Cosby feels there is always room for improvement.
“I want to improve our programs,” Cosby added. “I want us to see more students earn (industry standard) certificates in each class.”
Cosby’s duties are to oversee the day-to-day operation of the Career and Technical Center---a new $11.4 million state-of-the-art facility which opened in January of this year. The 44,000 square foot building houses 11 classrooms and three shop areas and offers classes in automotive technology, industrial maintenance, business and marketing, computer-aided drafting, and health sciences. Over 600 students are in the building during the course of a school year.
“Two-thirds of the students at the high school have classes in the Tech Center,” Cosby points out. “The Tech Center benefits the students of Allen County. Not all schools have a Tech Center that’s attached like we do. The technology in this building is top-notch.”
The coming months will see the Allen County School District continue to partner with local and area business and industry leaders to determine the best ways to utilize the Career and Technical Center beyond regular daily use. On June 4, district officials hosted a luncheon at ACCTC during which guests from business, industry, and higher technical education presented district officials with various ideas about new programs and initiatives that could better prepare both students and citizens in the community for entrance into the world of work.
The lunch forum identified multiple needs that employers’ face---needs reinforced in training Cosby recently attended.
“During training last week, all that was talked about was labor force,” Cosby shared. “We visited the Corvette plant, Harman, Stupp Bridge, and a machine shop and all four talked about how they could not fill welding and industrial maintenance positions. I was also talking to the assistant dean at the Southern Kentucky Community and Technical College about the possibility of them collaborating with us and perhaps bringing in some night classes to teach industrial-related classes.”
Cosby hopes that the ACCTC will continue to be a place that prepares all students for the multiple faces of technical education.
“Our school will help kids leave high school knowing what they want to do, where they can go for more training, and perhaps even getting a foot in a door,” Cosby noted.
As far as what current students can expect, Cosby says look for him to be out-and-about in the building.
“I’m going to be visible,” Cosby promised. “By being visible, the students will know I care and they will know they can come to me. I’m there to help them. I’m going to be supportive for the staff. We need to make sure our students are on the right career pathways and help them to succeed in life. We need to be able to help them become productive citizens. That’s our ultimate goal.”
Cosby begins his new role on July 1. Classes resume in the school district on Wednesday, August 5.