EDUCATING THE EDUCATORS Instructor Training 2026 BY ADAM MEMMOLO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, NHADA The NHADA Foundation, in partnership with Nashua Community College, hosted the annual Instructor Training Conference in November. The event provided high school and college instructors with 15 hours toward their required ASE training. There were 27 instructors in attendance from schools across New Hampshire. This event supports NH Auto Careers through education and training that will benefit future technicians. The need for qualified technicians in the automotive industry is at an all-time high. With rapidly evolving technology in the field, the next generation of technicians must be knowledgeable in traditional automotive mechanics while also being willing to learn emerging technologies. Finding ways to balance both will be essential to the continued success and growth of the industry, and this training helps support that need. Day one of the training began with Nashua Community College instructor Ben Wagstaff guiding the group through his newly developed “EV Bootcamp.” Instructors received real-world experience and hands-on training with today’s electric vehicle systems and components. Ben concluded the session with a surprise visit from Mega Tech, a company specializing in advanced technology training simulators for classroom use. Instructors had the opportunity to explore Mega Tech’s latest tools and gain firsthand experience with how they can be integrated into their programs. The second session of the day shifted to PicoScope demonstrations led by Jamie Decato, an NHAEF board member and Lakes Region Community College’s Transportation Department chair. Instructors learned how to apply the tool to support advanced automotive diagnostics. After a full day of learning, instructors were introduced to the newly completed Automotive Career Exploration Trailer. They rotated through hands-on stations, completed a scavenger hunt, and wrapped up the day with a competitive round of RC car racing. Participants raced for a chance to win an advanced training simulator courtesy of Lakes Region Community College. This marked the first time the Career Trailer demonstration included both the RC cars and scavenger hunt, and we appreciated the instructors serving as our test group and providing valuable feedback. Day two opened with Marlo Miranda presenting on behalf of the ASE Education Foundation, covering best practices for accreditation, classroom management, and advisory boards. Marlo, a graduate of Salem NH Auto Tech, was excited to return to his home state and connect with the current cohort of automotive instructors. The event concluded with David Lilly from Portsmouth CTE introducing a new webpage where New Hampshire instructors can share classroom materials, lesson plans and shop policies. The goal is to unify instruction across the state and support newer instructors with ready-to-use classroom resources. 21
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