John Callas
CAPP & ROP Auto Technology Instructor · Terra Linda High School
Terra Linda HS Alum · 30-Year Auto Shop Owner · All-Around Technician
From Shop Owner to Classroom — Keeping the Trades Alive
John Callas graduated from Terra Linda High School in 1981 — the same school where he now teaches. After high school, he attended junior college and trade school to become an auto technician, then spent roughly a decade working in the field as an all-around technician: diagnosing problems, making repairs, welding, and rebuilding whatever a car needed.
That field experience led him to open his own auto shop, which he ran for 30 years. As he began thinking about retirement, he saw an opportunity to do something that mattered: teach. John noticed that fewer and fewer young people were entering the automotive industry — and that the same shortage was hitting every trade. He became a teacher to change that.
Today, John teaches the Terra Linda High School ROP Auto Technology Program and the Car Appreciation and Preservation Program (CAPP) — an afternoon class open to students from high schools across Marin County that don't offer this type of program. Using older cars as hands-on learning tools, John gives students a real look at what a career in the automotive trades looks like and helps them start thinking about their options after high school.
1981
Terra Linda High School Graduate
A proud Terra Linda alum — John graduated from the same school where he now teaches, giving him a unique connection to his students and community.
Post-graduation
Junior College & Trade School
After high school, John attended junior college and a trade school to become a professional auto technician — building the diagnostic, repair, and fabrication skills that would define his career.
~10 years
Auto Technician — Field Work
Worked as an all-around technician for roughly a decade, handling everything from diagnosis and repair to welding and full rebuilds. This hands-on field experience gave him a complete picture of what it takes to fix any car.
~30 years
Auto Shop Owner
Founded and ran his own auto shop for 30 years — managing the business, serving customers, and doing the work himself. Three decades of ownership gave him deep expertise in both the craft and the business side of the automotive trade.
Present
ROP Auto Technology & CAPP Instructor — Terra Linda High School
As he was thinking about retirement, John saw an opportunity to give back. He became the instructor for the Terra Linda High School ROP Auto Technology Program and the Car Appreciation and Preservation Program (CAPP) — the afternoon program supported by Shifting Gears USA that serves students from across Marin County.
Car Appreciation & Preservation Program (CAPP)
An afternoon program at Terra Linda High School open to students from any Marin County high school. No prior experience required — just curiosity about cars and a willingness to get your hands dirty.
Program Details
What Students Learn
- Basic auto technology using real, older vehicles
- Diagnosis — reading symptoms and finding root causes
- Hands-on repair and mechanical work
- Welding and fabrication fundamentals
- Engine and component rebuilding
- Career exploration and post-high-school pathways