Brent Childers’ passion for education has brought him back into the classroom as he takes the reins of Clarendon College’s new Industrial Maintenance Program.
With more than a dozen years of community college teaching experience and additional hands-on work experience in the field, Childers brings a unique perspective to his new job, and he’s ready to share that enthusiasm with students from all walks of life.
“I enjoy students, and I enjoy teaching,” Childers says. “We want to reach students, and we’re going to do training for adults as well wanting to hone their skills or start a new job. Maybe they’re tired of a dead-end job and want something better. The idea is to train a well-rounded industrial maintenance person in mechanical and electrical skills.”
Childers graduated from West Texas State University (West Texas A&M University) in 1979 with a degree in industrial technology and then spent 8½ years working for Asarco before finding his true love – teaching. He started with Texas State Technical Institute and then worked for Amarillo College and Frank Phillips College before stepping back and taking a non-teaching job with a public school in Amarillo for seven years to be closer to his three kids and six grandchildren.
But something was missing; and when Childers saw CC’s Facebook post about needing someone to lead its new program, he knew what he was supposed to do.
“I’m glad to be here, and I’m excited about it,” he says, noting that he’s ready to get into area high schools and talk to students.
“Not everyone needs a four-year degree, but everyone needs training,” Childers says “Sometimes it doesn’t even have to be two-year degree. Sometimes just some certificates is what you need to open some doors.”
The new program has been in the planning stages for a while, and CC President Robert Riza says Childers brings the qualities the program needs.
“The Industrial Maintenance program has been something we’ve been wanting to start for some time,” Dr. Riza said. “Mr. Childers has the experience and the energy we have been seeking for a program director. This program will enable it graduates to be employable in several fields, not one specific.”
Childers says he understands some high school students want to just get out and start making money but doesn’t want anyone to wind up in a job with no options. Clarendon’s Industrial Maintenance Program can put students to work right away as well as give them a launching pad to pursue additional certifications in wind energy, electrical maintenance, or heating and air-conditioning.
He also hopes to expand his program’s dual credit offerings so high school students can have some certification when they graduate.
Courses in the Industrical Maintenance program will begin in January and enrollment is now open.
For more information about the program, contact Childers at 806-665-8801 or 806-223-9390 or visit www.ClarendonCollege.edu/IndustrialMaintenance.
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