McClymonds students in Oakland get job skills as tech support for the district

It was a problem with no clear solution: thousands of school-issued laptops, all out of commission.

At McClymonds High School in West Oakland, a group of students found a way to bring them back to life—and save their district hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process.

While most students at McClymonds use their laptops to complete assignments, David Anderson's work is his laptop.

"I can repair computers, PS5s, PS4s. I've opened up phones, laptops, I've even opened an AC unit once, which was nice."

Anderson is part of the Tech Repair Hub, a program that may sound official, until you realize it's run by teenagers armed with tiny screwdrivers and a mountain of busted Chromebooks.

No Genius Bar, no waiting room. Just sticky notes labeled "broken display" and "missing hinge thing," and students who somehow know exactly where to begin.

A year ago, Gavin Armstrong was once just another student using a school laptop. Now, he's the reason everyone else's still work.

"It's satisfying knowing that I have the skills and capabilities to do this," he said.

The program began in 2021, when the pandemic pushed classes online, and laptops to their breaking point. With no repair budget to keep up, the district turned to its students.

It was a long shot, but it clicked.

This is more than a class project. Students in the program earn $18 an hour—well above Oakland's minimum wage.

Samantha Núñez, who oversees the program, said the students repaired close to a thousand computers last school year, saving the district more than $200,000.

"There were definitely worries and concerns, like, 'Do they have the capacity to fix it?' And turns out they do," said Núñez.

Colleen Piper, the school's college and career counselor, said other school districts across the country have taken notice. But for her, the real impact isn't just financial.

"Learning honestly, just the responsibility of holding down a job, communication skills," said Piper.

For Anderson, the experience has already reshaped his future. He's now thinking about a career in computer science.

"It gets your mind thinking in different possibilities and ways to figure out how to fix something," he said.