Greater Lawrence Technical School Highlights Alumni Excellence: Jean Jimenez and Ignacio Rodriguez of Station 8

ANDOVER — Jean Joel Jimenez, Class of 2011, and Ignacio Rodriguez, Class of 2010, are two of the four members of Station 8, a group of Lawrence firefighters whose mission is to create fun, family-friendly public fire and safety education videos. 

In their teenage years, Jimenez and Rodriguez studied plumbing at Greater Lawrence Technical School. Although neither continued down that career path, they both noted that GLTS provided them with invaluable life skills that they use every day. 

“My studies at GLTS have profoundly shaped my career in numerous ways. It provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills, instilled valuable life lessons, and offered opportunities for self-discovery and career exploration,” said Jimenez. “As a freshman, I had the privilege of exploring various shops, allowing me to choose one where I could learn for the rest of my high school years. This experience equipped me with the tools necessary to navigate academic pursuits, enter the workforce, and build a successful career.”

“GLTS teaches lessons that a traditional high school cannot,” Rodriguez echoed. “For example, it taught a 14-year-old me how to safely and responsibly use torches and power tools. Then, through co-op opportunities, students can apply the skills they have learned in real jobs with actual clients and customers. I felt very prepared having these skills and experiences, which I know most kids my age did not have.”

Even though both men started as GLTS plumbing students and are now members of Lawrence Fire and Station 8, their journeys to get to where they are now differ greatly. 

“My career path wasn’t always straightforward, and there were many changes along the way,” Jimenez shared.

After graduating from GLTS, Jimenez enrolled at Mount Wachusett Community College to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice with the intention of becoming a police officer. He transferred to Fitchburg State University, where he studied for two years before enlisting in the Army National Guard to finance his education and serve his country. 

In 2014, he was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he served for a year. Upon his return, he joined the Worcester Police Academy and was later hired as a campus police officer for various schools, including Salem State University. 

His older brother, Johnny Jimenez — a fellow Station 8 member — is a Lieutenant in the Lawrence Fire Department; he encouraged Jimenez to take the exam to transition from a police officer to a firefighter. In 2016, Jimenez was hired by the Lawrence Fire Department, where he’s served for nine years. During his service, he has been named Firefighter of the Year twice.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to serve my country and now serve my community as a firefighter,” he expressed. “I’ve even been Firefighter of the Year twice now, which has been such an honor.”

Jimenez’s next achievement will be earning his Associate’s degree in Fire Science from North Shore Community College in May and attending Salem State University in the fall to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science. 

“Due to the various turns and directions in my career path and my deployment, I never managed to complete my college degree. It wasn’t a matter of whether I would obtain my college degree; it was a question of when. This realization holds immense significance in life, and every successful person emphasizes the importance of setting one’s mind to achieving their goals. I think it’s even simpler than that. Never stop trying, and I promise that everything you set your mind to, you will achieve.”

Rodriguez pursued a different calling after graduation from GLTS. 

After high school, he toured nationally with Grammy-nominated Latin duo Carlos y Alejandra. After a few years of touring, Rodriguez felt that it was time to focus on finding a career. During his search, he worked in security and then as an admin at Boston Children’s Hospital until 2016, before joining the Lawrence Fire Department as a firefighter. 

“Becoming a firefighter has been one of my proudest achievements. I was 23 years old when I first started the job, which is fairly young for a firefighter,” Rodriguez explained. “I’ve been here for nine years and have not looked back since.”

During his time with the department, he’s had many successes and achievements, including obtaining his Associate’s degree in Fire Science, receiving Firefighter of the Year three times, earning citations from state and local government, receiving a letter of recognition for his response during the Merrimack Valley Gas disaster and being awarded the Stephen D. Coan Fire Marshal’s Award for acts of heroism.

Last May, Jimenez and Rodriguez banded together with fellow Lawrence Firefighters Johnny Jimenez and Felix Reyes to create Station 8. Station 8 is set in a fictional world with fictional firefighters who teach kids about safety. They create videos, write songs, perform live shows, and are currently writing a book. Station 8’s goal is not only to change how kids learn about fire and life safety, but also to make learning about safety easily accessible to everyone. 

Almost one year later, Station 8 has garnered over 24,000 subscribers and more than 8 million views. 

“For me, Station 8’s success isn’t just in the numbers; Station 8 is a combination of all the things I love. I get to be a father, a firefighter, and keep my passion for writing and playing music alive,” said Rodriguez. “I never imagined that this is where life would bring me: from being a traveling musician to rescuing people, and now I teach kids. I couldn’t be happier!”

In light of Station 8’s success, Jimenez shared a piece of advice for GLTS students: “A key thing I learned from attending GLTS is to not to be afraid to fail. Try different things, and most importantly, never stop bettering yourself. Everyone has their own timeline and definition of success, but what’s most important is if you’re happy.”

Visit Station 8’s YouTube Channel here.

“We are incredibly proud of Jean and Ignacio on their successes since graduating from Greater Lawrence Technical School,” said Superintendent John Lavoie. “Their stories are outstanding examples that our students can take what they’ve learned here and use their skills to accomplish anything that they desire. Not only are we thankful for their service to our community and country, but their admirable mission of educating the younger generation on the importance of life safety. We are proud to have Jean and Ignacio as part of the GLTS community.