El Paisano

Issue date: 5/2/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Jaime Rivera John Frala during one of his classes in the Automotive Technology department at Rio Hondo College.

Holding two political seats in Sacramento while affiliated with American Honda and writing transit training manuals for transportation companies, John Frala still finds time to teach and coordinate the Automotive Technology program at Rio Hondo College.

"I hold a seat in Sacramento as a Senate delegate representing not only Rio Hondo but all community colleges in the state," said Frala.

Frala also serves as the representative for the area around Rio Hondo College and reports to the state.

His interest and experience in automotive technology has been continuous for over 38 years and he has been trained in 12 different states.

His traveling has taken him from the state of Maine across the nation until finally settling in California.

For seven years Frala has taught full-time at Rio and prior to that, he taught part-time for two years.

Every year 15 - 18 students get selected to enroll in the two-year program. Exceeding the maximum number of students is not allowed and the number is usually narrowed down to those students who have a true interest in the auto technology field.

Topics discussed in the courses taught by Frala include auto technology theory, hands on training and alternative fuel, which Frala particularly maintains an interest for.

Frala maintains accreditation with 13 transit companies by assisting the switch to busses.

He also supports the use of other energy sources such as hybrid's and compressed natural gas, both types, which he has written training manuals for.

The manuals help make it possible for companies to train personnel with new alternative fuel mobiles.

As an instructor he is proud to mention that in 2005 the automotive program of Rio Hondo received an outstanding award and just last year the California Community Colleges Association for Occupational Education (CCCAOE) awarded the excellence in partnership award to Rio Hondo and Valley Power Systems.

Frala has a long history in education. As a graduate from General Motors University, he received a Bachelors degree in communications from Mount Sac University and a Bachelors degree in business management from University of Phoenix.

Also from University of Phoenix he earned a Masters degree in adult education and in online education as well.

Frala has been nominated for the Hayward award and is recognized by companies in the field of automotive technology and also by the state of California where he represents community colleges.

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