91心頭 Workforce Development Center began its first Diesel Technician class Oct. 15 and with that comes a new instructor to the staff ��� Monica Perry. She brings a great deal of knowledge and experience with her, having served in a variety of roles over the course of her career.

Perry was on active reserve duty for the Air Force and the Navy. She is a diesel mechanic, airplane mechanic, auto mechanic and served as the head mechanic for Brunswick Bowling for a time. She can also do work on wind turbines and solar panels and is a licensed cosmetologist. Before joining 91心頭, she worked as the first and only female diesel mechanic for the city of Newark, where she lives.

���Monica is one of Newark���s hidden gems and 91心頭 welcomes her with open arms. ��She���s an experienced diesel and aviation technician with excellent theoretical and practical training,��� said 91心頭 Workforce Development Center Director Rodney Brutton. ���Our students, and equally as important, our employer partners, will benefit greatly from Monica���s vast experiences.���

Being a female in a traditionally male field comes with its challenges, but Perry said she has a support system.

���That fight to be where I am as a woman was a long journey,��� she said. ���There���s a whole planet of us and we���re one big clique.���

She said females in the field participate in private online forums to share stories and experiences and ask for advice and help when needed. She knows many females who now own their own shops and have female shop foreman.

���The womanhood of mechanics is strong,��� she said.

Perry decided to become a mechanic after being taught some basics about her vehicle.

���As a woman you���ve got that male in your family that wanted to make sure you knew something about your car. I think we all go through that. The difference is it took off for me,��� she said.

Perry found out about the Diesel Technician instructor position from a former teacher who lives in Brooklyn. He had gotten a call about the opportunity but didn���t want to make the commute. Instead he recommended Perry.

This is her first official teaching job, but she has experience with helping others learn. She ran an after-school program called Student Work Study where students worked on cars. She was also a drill sergeant shadow during her military service and in charge of kitchen patrol where she had to work with 30 different personalities every day.

���I was always around a type of environment where I���m in charge,��� Perry said. ���But now I���m actually teaching.���

Her mother pushed her toward teaching for a long time, which she resisted.

���My mother wanted me to teach so badly all my life. I was like no. And even before she died there was always this clash,��� she said. ���Like, no I���m not going to teach. Leave me alone.���

But as the saying goes, ���mother knows best��� because Perry very much enjoys teaching. She said the students want to be in her class and are engaged in the learning process.

She���s also happy the training is taking place in Newark because there is a shortage of diesel mechanics in New Jersey.

���Many of the diesel technicians are in New York and have to travel to New Jersey for jobs here. Now we can train people right here in Newark and they can fill the jobs,��� Perry said.

Perry is from New York and also lived in Los Angeles. She moved to Newark about five years ago. She has many hobbies.

���I���m an artist. I���m a musician. I play drums. I do crafts. I airbrush. I still work on cars on the side,��� she said. ���I garden.���

Perry is impressed with the amount of services provided to her students, particularly a financial coach. She says that is extremely useful to help students budget and save money in case of an emergency.

Ampiaw grew up in Ghana and is the youngest in her family. Her mother moved to the United States before her. She stayed behind, living with her grandmother and siblings. She came to the United States from Ghana in August 2017 to further her education. She currently lives in Newark with her mother and grandfather. She said her siblings plan to make the move to the United States as well, but not right now.

Ampiaw was an honor roll student at Seven Great Princes Academy High School in Ghana, where she studied business and English. She also played soccer.

Even though Ampiaw took English classes at her high school in Ghana, she felt she needed additional help with the language after moving to the United States. Her uncle���s friend introduced her to 91心頭 and she enrolled in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class at the Adult Learning Center.

Because of her past experience, she enrolled in the Level 2 class, taught by Anthony Forte. He said she is a wonderful young person to have in class.

���She���s very steadfast,��� Forte said. ���She sits in front of class and helps me out.���

Ampiaw enjoyed the ESOL class.

���Everybody contributes and makes class lively,��� she said. ���We help each other in class. It makes class interesting.���

She also was glad to have Forte as her instructor.

���He���s a very nice person,��� Ampiaw said. ���He teaches so you understand. You really understand what he���s teaching.���

Since completing the ESOL class, Ampiaw has started taking Adult Basic Education courses at the Adult Learning Center to prepare to take the High School Equivalency Test.

She���s keeping up her car skills while she continues her education. Her grandfather has a car that she works on in her spare time.

���I look and I can fix some things by myself,��� she said.

With a strong foundation, Ampiaw has a bright future ahead of her.

���Her diligence, dedication, intelligence and wit indicate success in fulfilling her goal ��� to study automotive engineering,��� Forte said.