On May 9, 2025, the Fairdale community gathered for the annual Diesel Tech Celebration—a powerful reminder of the vital role skilled trades play in shaping bright futures for students and supporting the region’s workforce. The event brought together students, educators, industry partners, and families to honor achievements in diesel technology, recognize certifications and co-op signings, and spotlight the transformational impact of hands-on learning.

Fairdale is a close-knit, multicultural community where students grow up together, attend the same schools, and return to give back. Nowhere is this spirit more evident than in Fairdale High School’s Teaching and Learning Pathway, where students from various backgrounds gain hands-on teaching experience while building bridges across languages and cultures.

Avery Kleier’s path to the front of the classroom began long before she set foot in Fairdale High School. Growing up in a family of educators, with her mother teaching ECE at Cane Run Elementary and several sisters and an aunt also in the profession, teaching was always a familiar world. “I love working with kids,” Avery says, a sentiment that has shaped her high school years and her plans for the future.

Every student has a story to tell, and Lisa Garrett is passionate about helping them write it. Her own career journey has been filled with unexpected chapters, and now, as Academy Coach at Fairdale High School, she's dedicated to guiding students as they write their own stories of success.

Fairdale High School recently hosted a successful Health Sciences Career Fair, notable for its student-driven organization and focus on providing real-world career insights. The event allowed 200 students from grades 10-12 to explore diverse opportunities in healthcare and develop essential leadership skills.

For many young athletes, the idea of continuing their sport at the collegiate or professional level is a natural dream. Evan Parisek, a skilled soccer player from Fairdale High School, had every opportunity to pursue that path. However, as he approached the end of high school, Evan made a different choice.

Fairdale High School's diesel tech students recently had the chance to explore how the electric vehicle (EV) industry is transforming career opportunities in automotive technology. Hosted by Ford Blue Oval SK, the event showcased the exciting future of EVs and the evolving role of diesel technicians within this rapidly growing field.

Fairdale High School's cybersecurity program received a boost of excitement on November 6, 2024, as KC7, a non-profit organization dedicated to gamifying cybersecurity education, visited the campus for a day-long event. The initiative, organized by cybersecurity instructor Bryan Quillen, aimed to equip students with essential skills for tomorrow's diverse cybersecurity workforce.

Fairdale High School's cybersecurity pathway took education beyond the classroom, offering students a unique glimpse into the world of real-world security operations. On October 15th, these aspiring cybersecurity professionals stepped into the heart of Louisville's digital defenses, visiting the Metro Government data center and security operations center.