M-DCPS Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for George T. Baker Aviation Technical College Extension Campus at Miami Sunset Senior High

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday at Miami Sunset Senior High School to celebrate the unveiling of the George T. Baker Aviation Technical College Extension Campus at the school.

“Now students don't have to travel to George T. Baker to get the experience of being a mechanic,” said Sunset Senior High School Principal Rudy Rodriguez. “Immediately they come out of here when they're a senior and they are certified to become an aviation mechanic, and they can start making a lot of money right away.”
Isaac Angulo, who has been a student at George T. Baker for two years, is excited that he will no longer have to board a bus at five in the morning to attend classes at the main campus, located near Miami International Airport.

“This is wonderful. I feel excited to learn here. They have all the tools brand-new, a very good environment for learning,” said Angulo. 

Improving access for a whole new crop of current and potential students living south was a big part of the motivation in adding the extension campus.

“It is so important to be able to accommodate all our students,” said George T. Baker Aviation Technical College Director Alissa Tapia. “We want to give our students the opportunity to have a successful career in aviation which will change families, improve lives. This is what we do at Miami-Dade County Public Schools.”

At the extension campus at Sunset, two classrooms and a shop have been retrofitted for the aviation students and there is Stubby, a half plane, basically the engine, brought to the campus so that students can practice their mechanical skills.

The Aviation Mechanics programs offered at the extension campus will cover a comprehensive curriculum, including aircraft systems, maintenance procedures, regulatory compliance, and hands-on training with cutting-edge equipment. Students will gain invaluable experience working with various aircraft components, preparing them for certifications and successful careers as aviation maintenance technicians.

“We are incredibly excited to unveil our new extension campus, a testament to our dedication to providing top-tier aviation education,” said Rene Mantilla, Assistant Superintendent, M-DCPS Office of Postsecondary Career and Technical Education. “This expansion allows us to not only increase our capacity to train more aspiring aviation mechanics but also to offer a dedicated space that simulates real-world industry environments.”

This state-of-the-art facility plays a vital role in meeting the growing demand for skilled aviation professionals by offering a dedicated, hands-on learning environment tailored to both career dual enrollment students and adult learners. As part of its unwavering commitment to excellence, choice, innovation and safety, M-DCPS continues to be your best choice for preparing students for high-demand careers and lifelong success.

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TOP CAPTION: One of the classrooms at the George T. Baker Aviation Technical College Extension Campus now open, located at Sunset Senior High School