Jason Barnes: CCP Alum and Medium and Heavy Truck Technology Instructor Fosters More Than Fleeting Connections

Designed to meet student and industry needs, Community College of Philadelphia’s Medium and Heavy Truck Technology program is one of a few on the entire East Coast. This program enables students to gain hands-on, practical knowledge and experience in service of medium and heavy vehicle and equipment platforms, including trucks, buses, tractor-trailer systems and off-road equipment. Students in these programs take classes from industry professionals at our Career and Advanced Technology Center (CATC) in West Philadelphia.

Student Ataa Taylor enrolled after deciding he wanted to pursue a job where he could work with his hands. Before he landed on the Medium and Heavy Truck Technology program, he thought he wanted to be in the Automotive program. “I decided to go for Automotive but then switched over to Medium and Heavy Truck because the teacher gave me good advice,” Ataa said. “So, I decided to stay with him rather than go to Automotive.” That teacher he’s referring to is Jason Barnes, the program’s instructor and fellow CCP alum.

Barnes prides himself on carrying on the tradition and values of treating the program like family, like his instructors and mentors did. When Barnes was a student at CCP in the Automotive program 20 years ago, his instructors and classmates approached each other with genuine kindness, respect, and closeness, fostering a safe space for each other.

“What we practice and what we preach here at the Automotive [program] is family,” Barnes said. After graduation, he worked for SEPTA for 19 years and then for the Borough of West Chester as their fleet manager. Now, Barnes has come full circle, back to CCP as the Medium and Heavy Truck instructor. “This is my dream job,” Barnes said. “I work with the guys who taught me.”

Barnes has also had the pleasure of teaching Ataa in a few different classes. “Ataa, when he first came in the door, was a quiet young man and didn't say much,” Barnes said. “He has blossomed and become one of my best students. …I look at him with a sense of pride and hope.”

Ataa has excelled in the program, and he landed a competitive internship with the Delaware River Port Authority, thanks to the department’s collaboration with industry partners. The department has a dedicated staff person that aids in this collaboration, Kevin Bradley. “Mr. Bradley works with our industry partners and local automotive shops to connect students with work-based learning opportunities offered through the schools,” Barnes said.

Ataa applied to the position after being encouraged by his career advisor. “I was like, ‘I don't think I'm ready for the position,’ but still I applied,” Ataa said. An interview secured his place in the internship program. “They pull us in for professional development, like once or twice a week, and they actually have us work on our Indeed profile,” Ataa said about the program. “So, yeah, I'm really happy that I got this internship.”

Since Ataa has found much success in the Medium and Heavy Truck Technology program, he is looking forward to figuring out his plans following graduation. “After graduation I [am] planning on getting a job hopefully at SEPTA or some other place that has a good starting pay rate and that would pay for my tuition,” Ataa said. He’s looking for jobs that will keep the door open for further education, as Attaa is interested in eventually pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Engineering.

The Medium and Heavy Truck Technology program at CCP is providing Philadelphia and the greater East Coast with more than just job-ready graduates—it's cultivating connection across the region between students, instructors, alumni and industry professionals. Learn more about the program that’s providing citizens for job opportunities essential to our city and region.