Addison Trail earns NATEF and ASE accreditation

For nearly a decade, Addison Trail Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher Keith Santini has continued to enhance the school’s automotive program, with a goal to earn accreditation by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

And Addison Trail recently earned that status – becoming one of only two comprehensive high schools in the U.S. to earn accreditation at the Master level. The other school is South Dade Senior High School in Florida, which is a career pathway high school. Only five high schools total in the U.S. have earned Master-level certification.

Nationally accepted standards of excellence in areas such as instruction, facilities and equipment were used to evaluate Addison Trail, and Santini said the certification process involved:

  • Working with and being evaluated by local auto shops to determine whether Addison Trail’s automotive program is providing students with the skills to pursue a successful career in the automotive field after they graduate
  • A two-day evaluation by NATEF and ASE that analyzed all aspects of the school’s automotive department
  • To achieve Master-level status, Addison Trail students had to demonstrate they could complete more than 400 tasks

“This is great news for automotive-minded young people and their parents,” said Donald Seyfer, former NATEF Chair. “Because this program increases cooperation between local education and industry leaders, it gives added assurance that Addison Trail graduates will be employable entry-level technicians. As a result of the quality education provided by Addison Trail, the motoring public will benefit, as better repair technicians will join the workforce.”

Santini said he’s thrilled Addison Trail has earned this accreditation.

“This certification is a huge asset to our community, to our school and to our students,” Santini said. “It was an involved process, and it means our program is meeting the highest industry standards to provide our students with a quality education that will prepare them to find employment after they graduate.”

To see a video highlighting the automotive program at Addison Trail (along with other CTE programs at Addison Trail and Willowbrook), go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/public/videos/?item=188.