“I have always enjoyed being able to impart information to others, especially as this requires that I master the information first. By preparing to teach, I improve my own understanding.”
Brian Sneed teaches Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair at Cordova High School in Cordova, Tennessee. Sneed’s passion for teaching began during his time in the army, where he served as a tank mechanic and trained others. This experience, combined with his time working as a mechanic after leaving active duty, made the transition in 2007 to teaching automotive repair a natural one. He has since earned a bachelor’s degree in history, a master’s degree in teaching, and holds a number of Automotive Service Excellence certifications.
Knowing that many, if not all, of his students will go on to be automobile owners, Sneed prides himself in teaching young people relevant skills that will inform their automotive decisions. He starts students with lessons in vocabulary, mathematical skills and safety before proceeding to hands-on work. With access to Ford and Toyota learning management systems, Sneed stays in practice with common topics while learning about and teaching the latest innovations. He often assigns industry articles to keep students’ reading skills up as well as their knowledge of modern standards. In addition to skills in inspection, diagnosis and repair, Sneed also teaches his kids how to design their own shop to better understand business plans, operations, and marketing. Graduates are consistently hired by local dealerships and retail repair shops.
Notes of Excellence
- Sneed’s program operates as a working shop for the local community, processing 150-200 cars each year.
- Partnerships fostered with a number of local dealerships have led to vehicle and equipment donations, guest speaker opportunities, and employment offers after graduation.
- Sneed is often sought by the district CTE office to mentor newly hired automotive teachers, going to their shops and providing an original guidebook, list of tools and equipment needed, and offering class resources to get their program off the ground.