The Instructor of the Year Award by NC3 requires more than just a teacher excelling at their job. With more than 700 students here at Van Nuys High School nominating him and over 1,700 industry certifications issued each year, Mr. Joseph Agruso has made something special for his students — a program that allows them to gain workforce skills while still in high school. A program that’ll carve a path for each of his student’s careers.
Mr. Agruso’s journey to Van Nuys High School’s automotive shop started far from any classroom. He served in the U.S. Army for 21 years as a Light Wheel Power Generation Recovery Specialist. According to the NC3 website, he is described as “jack of all trades, master of none.” That versatility would later become his teaching superpower.
After his service in the U.S. Army, he became an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certified Technician and later became an assistant service manager at Galpin Motors in North Hills, one of the largest Ford dealerships in the world.
During his tenure at Galpin Motors, Mr. Agruso earned a Ford Master Certification and completed more than 750 professional development courses through the Ford Motor Company.
While working at the dealership, he started a new chapter in the San Fernando Valley Automotive Youth Education Systems (AYES), which partners automotive manufacturers and dealers with high schools to prepare students for careers in the industry.
All of this experience brought Mr. Agruso to Van Nuys High School in 2005. Twenty years later, his automotive program, through the Snap-on Technical Education Program (STEP), has become one of the most sought-after programs on campus, with students lining up to learn from a teacher who’s done the work himself.
Through STEP, which combines STEM-focused instruction with hands-on certifications in diagnostics, torque and vehicle information systems, students earn credentials that matter to employers.
The numbers tell the story of his impact. More than 700 Van Nuys students nominated him for the Instructor of the Year award, and he issues more than 1,700 industry certifications a year, credentials that help students walk into job interviews with proof of real world skills.
“When the Snap-on Instructor chose me across all 50 states, it was very humbling,” Mr. Agruso said. “There’s a lot of talent out there and me winning the award is just amazing.”
He credits his success to the people around him.
“I have an amazing team and amazing people surrounding me,” he said. “I think the students are self-motivated. They know that this can give them an early start for success.”
But auto shop student senior Ashley Barrales thinks Mr. Agruso deserves more credit than he gives himself.
“He was the right person to receive this award,” Barrales said. “I’m inspired by his hard work and dedication to the school and to the auto shop program.”
Barrales has been in Mr. Arguso’s program for two years now and sees his teaching style up close every day.
“He’s a really good teacher,” Barrales said. “He definitely knows his stuff. He really encourages us to ask questions and pushes us to be our best.”
As one of the few female students in the program, Barrales has a unique perspective on Mr. Agruso’s classroom dynamics.
“Since there’s only a few girls in auto shop, Mr. Agruso has a fatherly relationship with us,” she said. “Mr. Agruso lets us mess around but he knows how to put us to work and holds us at the same standards as the guys in the class.”
Back in the shop, Mr. Agruso is already looking ahead. With the Instructor of the Year award now under his belt, he’s focused on the next group of students walking into his classroom.
“Life is always about improving,” Mr. Agruso said. “Since I’ve been teaching it’s always been focused on how to make the class better for the following year. Nothing is ever perfect, even if you get an “A” on paper. You can always find a way to improve it. I’m always looking for ways to improve the program so that it’s successful for all the students who are involved.”
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2025 print edition.
