The Carroll County High School Building Trades program has made the following presentations about the program:

1.  Every year one of the program instructors and 3-4 students (to include 1 to 2 females) showcases Building Trades to the sixth and seventh grade students (middle school) at their school for career day.

2.  Every year, the eighth and ninth graders (intermediate school) tour the high school vocational programs.  While regular shop work continues, two students (at least one female) conduct the presentation.

3.  Two neighboring school districts have sent new instructors to examine the Carroll County High School Building Trades program.

4.  Mr. Warren made a presentation about the Building Trades program involvement on the house construction to the Fuller Center for Housing - Greater Carroll County Area.  The public was invited to attend .

5.  The Carroll County High School Building Trades program  projects are often featured in the local newspaper and on the Fuller Center for Housing web site.

     Everyone will come in contact with the need for some construction knowledge at some point in their lives, because shelter is one of our basic needs.  The Carroll County High School Building Trades program realizes and addresses this concept by making this program conducive to a greater number of students than ever before.  This approach to enrollment brings a great diversity in student interests and abilities.  This issue is successfully being met through the following methods to provide a program with rigor and relevance to each student. 

     The Building Trades program focuses on being a hands-on, learn-by-doing type of educational environment.  Research shows that retention is achieved at a 75% rate through this method of instruction.  This is increased by the more advanced or skilled students to a 90% retention rate as they are utilized in a peer-teacher role.  This leadership responsibility is paralleled to that of a supervisor in the construction industry, thus giving a wider range of workplace readiness skills to these students. 

     The Building Trades classes are also dual credit with Wytheville Community College.  This gives the students an advantage, both financially and time wise, when continuing their education at the post-secondary level.  They are able to enter the work- force sooner and with greater skills and certification. 

     For the students that are not college-bound, the Building Trades program is designed to enable each student to earn an industry certification through the NCCT –Core test. Even struggling students have been successful in this endeavor through the incorporation of the PLATO computer program to assist in preparing students in areas that they may be weaker in academically.  This takes place in class on one of the 12 student computers.

     To maintain student interest, the program must remain current on the industry trends.  This is accomplished through ties with not only WCC and the Construction Technology Department, but also through partnerships with local businesses, advisory committees, construction professionals, contractors, and professional development by the instructors, in both educational strategies and in construction and safety updates and training.  Current trends being covered include a "green" initiative through the solar trainers and an environmental understanding of a product's "carbon footprint," and focusing on STEM applications.

     What brings relevance to the concepts covered and reinforces competency with the skills, are the facilities of the Carroll County High School Building Trades program.  Each Building Trades II student is issued his own tools to be able to work on one of the many projects (school, community, or service), training simulators (plumbing, electrical, and roofing), or on an actual house being built as a modular unit on campus.  There are also numerous resources through the diverse textbook sets of NCCER- Core Curriculum, Fundamentals of Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, and ICC Residential Code books.  A set of construction DVDs can be viewed through the TV or on the SMARTBoard, which also enhances the standard instructional lessons.

     Another focal point of the program is the tie to SkillsUSA.  The desire to compete and showcase individual abilities has been embraced by many students.  Building Trades students have competed in four different types of skill competitions and numerous leadership contests over the years.  You know that you are a part of a successful organization that  has meaning to the students, when they return to school in the fall talking about the prospect of competing in a contest of their choosing  at the District, State, or National level, or that they no longer plan on graduating in December, in order to be able to compete.  

     The Carroll County High School Building Trades program has something for everyone regardless of career path or ability.