Inside Maricopa High School: Unveiling the Unique Computer Repair Venture

Maricopa High School’s 24PinTech, a business borne from an IT class, showcases the intersection of education and technology. Operated by students, it provides affordable computer repairs and IT services to local businesses and residents, charging only for parts replaced.

Brad Chamberlain, the instructor overseeing 24PinTech, emphasizes the program’s mission: “We teach them how to be a technician.” Over a decade, more than 1,000 students have passed through the program, with around 300 focusing specifically on 24PinTech.

Students gain hands-on experience by repairing a range of electronic devices, from laptops to mobile phones. The curriculum includes essential skills like networking and computer maintenance. Operating as a fully student-run entity, 24PinTech extends its tech support to the entire Career and Technical Education (CTE) network at the high school, as well as aiding the Maricopa Unified School District with its IT infrastructure.

The initiative began as a modest club with ten members. Chamberlain encouraged students interested in IT to draft a business plan, which laid the foundation for their current operations. Today, they manage a work-order system that efficiently tracks all repair jobs.

With 12 work orders currently in progress, the students are actively engaged in their community. “We do the work for free; we just charge them for parts,” Chamberlain notes. The program’s website, developed by a former student, showcases its offerings and achievements.

Inside the tech lab, junior Mason Raymond is repairing a Nintendo Switch, utilizing research on charging circuits. Senior Jaiden Thatcher works on replacing an iPad screen, demonstrating the varied projects undertaken by the students.

The classroom also includes a hands-on networking and data center and a collection of restored computers dating back to the mid-1980s, showcasing the breadth of technical skills being cultivated. Junior Asher Hyde manages orders and expresses a lifelong passion for technology, while sophomore Daniella Villegas stands out as the only female technician in the program.

Newcomers to the program engage in a foundational course that teaches them vital skills, including hardware assembly, operating system installation, and device security assessment. Successfully completing the entry-level class can lead students to the CompTIA+ certification, a recognized credential in the tech industry.

Sophomore Evan Addington, involved in the program for three years, expresses his interest in technical networking and intends to pursue higher education in the field. His aspirations include attending Central Arizona College and transferring to Grand Canyon University, drawn by its cybersecurity program.