TEMPLE, Texas — Temple High School students are getting hands-on experience working on city vehicles through a partnership between the City of Temple and Temple ISD.

The city’s Fleet Services Division and the district’s Wildcat Workforce program are offering students an apprenticeship focused on automotive repair and maintenance. Students work alongside city employees while learning skills used in the automotive industry.

Participants gain experience performing preventative maintenance, diagnosing vehicle issues and assisting with engine and brake repairs on city equipment, according to officials.

The apprenticeship program has operated for five years and has served about 25 students since October 2024. City officials said one former participant has since been hired by the city.

Temple ISD Career and Technical Education Director Sara Bartlett said the program gives students experience outside the classroom while preparing them for workforce demands.

“Students aren’t just watching,” Bartlett said. “They are performing routine preventative maintenance, vehicle diagnostics, and engine repairs on the very equipment that keeps the city running.”

Seagram Porter, the city’s fleet operations division director, said the partnership helps students explore careers in a field with strong workforce demand while building practical skills and confidence.

Officials said the program is designed to connect classroom instruction with real-world job experience and create career opportunities for local students.