Automotive Pathway students stand with pathway advisors, Santa Ana Unified leaders and Superintendent Dr. Lorraine M. Perez during the Community Garage event at Valley High School. Students hold certificates presented during the event. (Photo courtesy of the Santa Ana Unified School District) 
A Valley High School automotive student works beneath a vehicle during the Auto Academy Saturday Community Garage Service Clinic at the school’s CTE automotive facility. (Photo courtesy of the Santa Ana Unified School District) 
Automotive students complete the intake process for a vehicle before it enters the service bay during the Community Garage clinic at Valley High School. (Photo courtesy of the Santa Ana Unified School District)
Automotive pathway students at Valley High School recently rolled up their sleeves as part of the Auto Academy Community Garage Service Clinic, providing free vehicle services to members of the Santa Ana Unified School District Community.
The event, held Jan. 31 at Valley’s automotive facility, brought together students from Valley and Santa Ana high schools to practice industry skills in a real-world setting while offering multi-point inspections, tire rotations, tire balances and oil changes at no cost.
“It’s all being done — both the service write-up and the actual repairs and maintenance — by the students here, with oversight from supervisors and teachers,” said Oscar Chavez, automotive pathway teacher at Valley High School.
A total of 12 vehicles were serviced during the recent clinic. An earlier practice run in October also assisted 12 community vehicles.
For students, the experience extended beyond technical training. Eli, a Valley High student, said working directly with customers helped build communication skills.
“My favorite thing that I’ve done so far is being able to communicate with the customers,” Eli said. “If they have any questions, they know they can come and tell us.”
Steven Long, director of Career Education and Workforce Innovation for Santa Ana Unified, said the community garage supports the goals of the Automotive Pathway by allowing students to apply classroom learning in authentic settings while serving neighbors in the community. He added that the initiative is supported in partnership with High School Inc. Academies Foundation, which helps connect SAUSD with industry partners and donated resources.
Another clinic is scheduled for April 25, with additional events planned for the next school year.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- In the latest episode of OCDE’s FutureCurrent podcast, Orange County United Way President and CEO Sue Parks discusses her path to nonprofit leadership and the importance of connecting families to community resources that support student success.
- About 1,200 middle and high school students from roughly 50 Orange County campuses competed in the 2026 Regional Science Olympiad at UC Irvine, testing their skills across a range of STEM events from biology and geology to engineering and coding.
- Seven wrestlers from Connections at University High School’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program earned four podium finishes — including two first-place titles and a Most Outstanding Wrestler honor — at the national Willigan Wrestling Tournament in Indianapolis.
- Former four-division world champion boxer Abner Mares visited OCDE’s Youth Reporting Center North to share his personal journey and encourage students on probation to make positive choices and stay focused on their goals.
- Students with disabilities and their families will gather March 10 at the Irvine Unified School District Learning Center for the second annual “Empowering Transitions, Building Futures” event, a countywide transition fair featuring a student leadership conference, a youth business showcase and more than 75 agencies offering employment and community resources.
- New data show a persistent link between family income and academic outcomes in Orange County, though districts such as Garden Grove Unified are posting strong college-readiness results despite serving a high share of lower-income students.
- During Career Technical Education Month, OCDE recognized approximately 1,200 CTE teachers countywide — including instructors serving ACCESS students through a partnership with North Orange County ROP — with classroom visits highlighting hands-on, career-connected learning.
- According to the Orange County Register, student walkouts during the school day generally do not reduce school district funding in California if students attend for part of the day, because funding is calculated based on average daily attendance.
- Marina High music director John McGilligan and Fountain Valley High social studies teacher Julie Chaicharee have been named Huntington Beach Union High School District Teachers of the Year in recognition of their years of service and contributions to their school communities.
- Elementary teachers across the country report a rise in disruptive and sometimes physical behavior among young students since the pandemic, increasing demand for classroom management training and prompting debate over how schools should respond.
- California school districts and other public agencies are facing sharply rising insurance costs after a 2019 law expanded the window for filing child sexual abuse lawsuits, with some leaders warning the financial impact is affecting classroom programs and local services.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.