Maiden High School has an exciting Career and Technical Education program this year

Maiden High School has an exciting Career and Technical Education program this year thanks to the direction of Career and Technical Coordinator Adam Windham and other staff.

“We want to show students that college isn’t the only route, and it isn’t always the best route for everybody,” Windham said. “With these CTE classes, there are jobs waiting for them when they get out.”

Teacher Von Starnes is just one of the incredible 10 CTE teachers that Maiden has, and he helps his students learn fundamentals in carpentry.

Starnes was previously acknowledged as “Teacher of the Year,” and with his kind heart sharing popcorn, giving an encouraging word, or just showing enthusiasm for teaching, everyone can see why.

He teaches multiple levels, but this fall he’s currently teaching

two core fundamentals classes and a level two class. Each class is 90 minutes a day.

In the core fundamentals class, students learn in two classes, one doing book work and the other learning hands- on skills like finding a stud in a wall.

“It’s the first class they take. Tool safety is one of the main fundamentals,” Starnes said. “We also concentrate on application.”

Along with the hand and power- tool safety, students learn construction math, communication, and employability skills. They also make decorations to sell for their school.

In Level Two, students learn about building floors, walls, ceilings, roofs, and exterior finishes. His classes have built dog houses, hunting sheds, porches, decks, ramps, and other things. When students get to Level 3, they’re focusing on the interiors of buildings and homes building floors and framing walls.

Student teacher Cameron Barkley was once a student at Bunker Hill High School. Now, doing his student teaching for Appalachian State University, he’s happy to be at Maiden High.

“It’s a wonderful family atmosphere,” Barkley said. “I love the closeness.”

Windham and Starnes are also happy to have him.

“He’s the only trade industry student teacher at App,” Windham said.

Barkley and Starnes work well together and help each other by instructing in different parts of the class.

At 22, Barkley, who grew up in the construction business, knows the importance of the industry and wants to get more students interested.

“My grandpa and dad were in construction. I’ve been in this my entire life,” he shared.

“They taught me to help younger people.”

He is excited to get those students excited about the industry, sharing that Maiden provides all updated equipment, including drills, band saws, sanders, a saw stop, grinding wheels, and a new CNC machine.

“It’s a realistic environment in here,” Barkley said. Windham is too.

“The old stigma of this work was not good,” he said. “It’s completely different than the ‘70’s.”

Windham noted that Catawba County is one of the top 10 manufacturing hubs in the world.

“Kids are learning and they don’t even realize it,” Windham said. “It’s a high order of thinking and good quality instruction. We can train then to go straight into the workforce.”