Salem Technical Initiative Graduates 21 Students in Fall Automotive Technology, Building & Property Maintenance Tracks

Registration open for Winter/Spring 2026 Cohort

SALEM (Dec. 19, 2025) – The Salem Technical Initiative, an adult education program at Salem High School, celebrated its fifth graduating class Thursday night in a ceremony at the SHS Black Cat Bistro restaurant.

The STI conferred Automotive Technology and Building and Property Maintenance entry-level certifications to 21 students – 12 in Automotive Technology, nine in Building and Property Maintenance – each of whom completed the 12-week, 5-9 p.m., daily program at no cost.

With Thursday’s graduation, the Salem Technical Initiative program alumni base has grown to 123 graduates in Automotive Technology, Sustainable Building and Building and Property Maintenance since launching in September 2023.

Jayden Bueno (SHS Class of 2025), an Automotive Technology graduate, and Landerson Eloisaint (Building and Property Maintenance), received the Perfect Attendance Awards for each cohort while Oleksandr Spasov (Automotive) and Abbes Naanaa (BPM) were named the recipients of the Leadership Award.

Mr. Bueno, who currently works as a technician at Acura Peabody, was also the ceremony’s guest speaker as he heaped praise on his educators and emphasized the value of his education at SHS.

2025 Automotive Technology graduates earned entry level Toyota Technician certification as well as certification in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 standards; Hot Works fire safety; Red Cross First Aid; cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use. They also received $300 worth of the necessary tools, a full uniform and boots to begin work immediately.

Building and Property Maintenance graduates earned certification in OSHA 30 standards and Hot Works fire safety, as well as Red Cross First Aid, CPR and AED use. They were presented with a 100-piece homeowner’s startup toolkit, a DeWalt cordless drill, Carhartt boots, a hard hat and other accessories in preparation for their careers.

The STI programming additionally included mock interview training as well as instruction on resume and cover letter writing.

STI is accepting applications now for its Spring 2026 coursework in four tracks: Automotive Technology, Building and Property Maintenance, Electrical Technology and Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC). Classes are scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 and will meet Monday-Thursday (5-9 p.m.) for 12 weeks at SHS.

Salem’s CTI program aligns with the District Strategic Plan’s four core priorities: elevating learning, empowering educators, prioritizing belonging and strengthening the foundation of the district. 

The Salem CTI Fall Class of 2025 included:

Building & Property Maintenance

• Vilme Changler
• Brandon Caliri ’13
• Pierreson Denaud
• Landerson Eloisaint
• Yardley Pierre Louis
• Wensky Louis-Jean
• Steven Mastrangelo
• Harmony Mitchev
• Abbes Naanaa

Automotive Technology

• Jayden Bueno ‘25
• Alex Cepeda
• Deibi De Leon
• Spencer Gagnon
• Samy Gell
• John Wesner Jeune
• Ysrael Joseph
• Corey MacNeil
• Robert Santana Pena
• Aiden Nelson
• Oleksandr Spasov
• Devin Walsh

View Ceremony Program

About Salem Career Technical Initiative

Salem Technical High School is committed to bridging the skills gap in the workforce. As a grant-funded initiative, our focus is on two key areas of local demand: automotive technology and building/property maintenance with a specialization in green insulation technology. Our mission is to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge needed in these critical sectors. Through our targeted programs, we aim to address the growing need for skilled automotive technicians and experts in sustainable building practices. Our approach combines practical, hands-on learning with theoretical knowledge, ensuring our graduates are well-prepared to meet the challenges of their chosen fields. By fostering a supportive and dynamic learning environment, we are dedicated to helping each student achieve their full potential.

About Salem Public Schools

Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.