CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Caden Suiter wasn’t doing very well in high school when he heard about Early Technical College from a friend. His mother, Gail Suiter, said she noticed Caden was going down a dark path.

“He was so lost in the dark, I couldn’t grasp him,” she said. “And when he got into ETC, he found his purpose.”

Caden, 18 and now working as a diesel mechanic, was all smiles when he talked to Clarksville Now about everything he learned at ETC. “Besides all the high school work, it opened me up to learning about life skills, like writing resumes, taking your hat off before you go into an interview.”

Caden said that’s what set him apart from other candidates who applied for the job he now has. He was the only applicant out of all those who were interviewed to receive an immediate job offer.

When asked about the success and opportunities he has encountered, Caden said, “Hard work and dedication will get you there.”

What is ETC?

Early Technical College, offered by the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, is a hybrid high school that concentrates on the technical education necessary for high-skill, high-paying and in-demand jobs. Students in 11th and 12th grades can enroll.

There are five available pathways at ETC:

• Industrial Electrical Maintenance/Mechatronics (IEMM).
• Pharmacy Technology.
• Pre-Practical Nursing (Pre-PN).
• Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R).
• Diesel-Powered Equipment Technology.

Classes at ETC are more intimate, allowing for more individualized training and attention, according to Constance Brown, success coach and career access adviser at ETC.

ETC was established in August 2018 and, despite being a part of a system with over 39,000 students, Brown said it still has a small-town feel. “We’ve become a family,” she said.

Her eyes glimmered with pride as she gestured to the four boys she introduced to Clarksville Now as a testament to the program’s success: Caden, John Henry Del Principe, Joseph Hawkins and Jeffrey Ortiz, all of whom are either currently enrolled or recent graduates.

ETC offers students a free path to industry certification while they finish high school courses. Students take part in internships combined with classroom sessions and labs run by TCAT instructors.

“Hands-on is my way,” said John Henry, 18, an HVAC student in the program. “If I want to learn something, it’s through demonstration and hands-on learning. Within the first two weeks, I learned how to pull a vacuum and recharge a system, and ever since then, it’s just stuck with me.”

Everything changed for John Henry when he entered the program, including the way he looked at school. Cynthia Del Principe, John Henry’s mother, said he actually enjoyed going to school.

“School was cool, but what kid really likes school? They didn’t have his sports that he played here, so he was a little upset. One of his teachers told him about this program. We wouldn’t have known otherwise,” said his mother, Cynthia Del Principe.

Networking, communication skills

All classes required for the high school diploma are taken on the TCAT campus virtually. Students have access to a certified teacher who oversees their progress and offers individualized support. Being at ETC allows students their own National Technical Honors Society (NTHS) and Student Ambassador program.

NTHS celebrates the accomplishments of career and technical education students. The Student Ambassador program gives current ETC students the opportunity to encourage other CMCSS students to enroll in ETC.

Joseph Hawkins, 18, an IEMM student, said being part of ETC and the Student Ambassador program taught him the importance of networking, developing leadership skills, public speaking and communication. He was the Student Ambassador president last year and gives a lot of credit for his success to that opportunity.

ETC also sets the students up for success with job shadowing and internships.

“The school helps you get to know other businesses after you graduate. A lot of other schools they just give you the certificate or degree and they just send you off,” Joseph said.

“Joseph is such an intelligent young man,” Brown said. “He’s a problem-solver. And that became evident to me early. I saw those leadership qualities in him, and I don’t think he saw it himself. His personality really started coming out when he became Student Ambassador president. He was always excited. He’s going to be a great leader, and he will end up being a leader. The world is his oyster.”

ETC uses a non-traditional schedule for students, operating Monday-Friday 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with optional morning hours for work-based learning experiences, and optional summer hours between junior and senior year to earn additional TCAT hours. They also provide transportation as needed. Candidates must meet admission requirements to qualify.

Jeffrey Ortiz, 17, an HVAC student and current Student Ambassador president, encourages other CMCSS students to take on the challenge and make the change.

“I was close to failing out high school. I was the quiet kid, even when I got here. I did not talk. … Now, I actually enjoy going out and speaking to high officials and adults.”

Freshman year was difficult for Jeffrey, according to his mother, Lisa Ortiz. He started off doing well but eventually started declining. The ETC program changed that.

“Jeffrey excelled more one-on-one. Any high school would not have been able to give him what he received at TCAT.” After arriving at ETC, Jeffrey did a complete 180, she said.

Jeffrey simply said, “If you want it, you can have it.”

For more information, visit the Early Technical College at TCAT website or call 931-572-1695.