Kentucky schools are ending the year, and some students are graduating with practical experience.
Jorge Gomez said he always knew he wanted to pursue a trade after high school.
“I didn’t really want to study anymore after high school, so I was either getting a trade or find [sic] something else to do. And an electrician at first is what really interested me. I’m really interested in the trades. And then, you know, I came into plumbing,” said Gomez.
Gomez is part of Fern Creek High School’s Plumber Assistant Pathway through the Academies of Louisville.
“We had took [sic] the state test. 11th grade. I passed two-thirds of the section in [sic] the first time. And so after that, you know, it really gave me confidence. I was like, ‘yeah, this could really be a future career for me,’” said Gomez.
Fern Creek High School plumbing instructor Will Stout said the field needs more people.
“A lot of plumbers will be leaving the field in the next decade, and they’re close to retirement. They need younger people in the trade that know the stuff, know the proper code, you know, just even just know how to use tools, read a tape measure, write basic skills like that,” said Stout.
While students aren’t able to go out to job sites, Stout said they try to do as much hands on work as they can.
“We also kind of have come up with our own little makeshift plumbing system, just with some sinks. But we try [to] plumb this on our own. We learn how to properly connect PVC, hook up drains, test for leaks, those kinds of things,” said Stout.
Gomez added, “We practice how to do this. So we would learn how to plumbing toilets and like put it all together and see how it would fit in a real, like, in a real bathroom.”
Gomez is the first Jefferson County Public Schools student to receive his Journeyman Plumber certification and the second high school student in the state of Kentucky and Gomez said he can’t wait to get out in the field.
“I plan on working with the plumbing company, starting my apprenticeship, and then hopefully after two years, I can activate my license and then start working with the company,” said Gomez.
Four students in JCPS have now received their Journeyman Plumber certification. JCPS hopes their plumbing pathway will continue to expand and get more women in trades, too.
