Limestone County Career Technical Center students will notice a new face when they start back to school in August. The growth of the school led to a second director position — one Dr. John Wilson is looking forward to fulfilling.

Before Wilson began at the CTC Wednesday, he was an agricultural education teacher at Clements High School. He will work alongside current director Vince Green — a partnership Wilson said he’s looking forward to.

“We’ve worked together a lot in the past and I’m really excited to be a part of the team and keep furthering (career technical education) in Limestone County,” he said. “We’ve got some exciting things coming in the near future.”

The additional director position is a result of the growth seen by the CTC in terms of students and programs, Wilson said.

“We have a lot housed there along with virtual schools and the success academy — it’s huge,” he said. “It’s beyond the capabilities of one person to do it efficiently and effectively.”

Among the exciting things Wilson mentioned is the $50,000 federal grant the school will receive in the fall to expand and incorporate simulated worksites to the building and construction programs.

Green said at the Limestone County School Board meeting Tuesday the automotive department is already equipped with a simulated workplace and it has helped transform the program into a virtual reality training session.

Once students in the construction and building programs are introduced to the new way of learning, those less experienced will quickly get up to speed, Green said.

“It’s spot-on what industry wants to see,” he said.

Wilson said Wednesday construction students can expect to be faced with a two-story industrial or commercial building where they will work collaboratively with other programs to wire the building, install plumbing and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning throughout the year.

For automotive students just entering the program, virtual learning will be step one and as they progress, they will move to the simulated job sites.

“The virtual reality is unique to the automotive program. Instead of year one students stripping down engines, they will do that in a virtual reality, and when they master those standards, they will work on a real truck,” Wilson said.

Along with simulated work sites, students will also be given simulated real-life descriptions of careers, families and bills so they will learn budgeting skills, Green said.

Students will begin using virtual reality in August but will have to wait until later in the fall to use the simulated worksites.

About Dr. John Wilson

Wilson is a native of Limestone County. He graduated from Clements High School and has taught agricultural science at both Clements High School and East Limestone High School. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and educational specialist degrees in agriscience education from Auburn University. He also obtained his doctorate of philosophy in career and technical education and his graduate certification in education leadership from Auburn University.