North Creek High School junior Austin Mitchell learns to fly using a $14,000 Redbird flight simulator in Northshore School District’s new Introduction to Aviation class. (Northshore School District)

North Creek High School junior Austin Mitchell learns to fly using a $14,000 Redbird flight simulator in Northshore School District’s new Introduction to Aviation class. (Northshore School District)

Northshore District students soar in new aviation class

Many in the class are contemplating careers as pilots, air traffic controllers or engineers.

BOTHELL — Students prepare for takeoff at 7:45 a.m. in Douglas Hakala’s Introduction to Aviation class at North Creek High School.

The new Career and Technical Education (CTE) course launched this fall in the Northshore School District. While it’s held at North Creek, any student in the district is invited to take the class.

Austin Mitchell, a junior, said he sprang at the opportunity to take the class when he first heard it was being offered. He said he comes from a long family history of aviation, to which he hopes to become another addition.

“My great-great uncle served in World War II and flew B-17 bombers,” Mitchell said. “My grandfather worked for Lockheed Martin, and my father currently works for Boeing. Through my life, I’ve had a history of aviation. Once I saw this class was available, I thought it would be the best thing to take it.”

Mitchell and his 29 other classmates are learning to fly using a $14,000 Redbird flight simulator.

The class immerses students into aviation through a variety of topics, such as aviation history to jet engines mechanics and aircraft aerodynamics basics. The class is designed to assist students explore other career choices after high school.

Hakala has been teaching in the Northshore School District for the last six years. He’s taught marketing, finance and robotics. He has two masters degrees — one in business, the other in engineering, specifically in aviation. He worked on the 767/757 project staff for Boeing.

When seeking for someone to teach the class, Director of CTE Damen Schuman said he was searching for someone to teach the class “in all the wrong places.”

“It was pure happenstance that we had the perfect person to teach this class right under our noses,” Schuman said.

Hakala said he enjoys teaching the aviation class at North Creek because he loves seeing students’ enthusiasm ignite.

“It’s so wonderful to see these kids, who a lot of them don’t really know what they want to do after high school, become interested in learning — especially something in the STEM field,” he said. “I have so many kids come up to me and say, ‘I didn’t know physics and math could be so interesting!’ It makes a difference when they can see it going into something that’s real and practical.”

Braxton Larson, a senior, said the class is really practical for students who are seeking alternative career routes to going to a four-year college.

“It’s really helpful if you want to pursue a practical STEM-related career,” he said. “I’m interested in going into the Air Force Academy and I’m really glad I’m taking this class.”

Several students in the class said they’re contemplating a career in aviation, whether it’s being a pilot, an air traffic controller or an engineer.

The students who complete this course will have the skills to pass the FAA’s written pilot’s exam.

Northshore School District is currently the only district that has this kind of program at the high school level.

This story originally appeared in the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter, a sibling paper of The Daily Herald.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Everett
Judge sentences man, 73, for intending to have sex with ‘teen’ in Everett

The Arizona man sent explicit images to an agent posing as a 13-year-old. Investigators found images of child sexual abuse on his phone.

State’s draft of climate action plan open for public comment

Residents can submit public comments or climate-related stories online through Aug. 22.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The Edmonds School Board discusses budget cuts during a school board meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds school board approves 2025-26 budget

After facing an estimated $8.5 million shortfall earlier in the year, the board passed a balanced budget Tuesday.

A wall diagram shows the “journey of the ballot” at the new Elections Center on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County Auditor: No need for feds to meddle with state or local elections

Garth Fell’s comments were in response to a report of Justice Department mulling criminal charges against election officials.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.