CTE director outlines summer camps, industry partnerships and credential gains amid enrollment pressures

Iredell‑Statesville Schools CTE staff gave the board an overview of the local CTE plan, summer camps, industry partnerships and credentialing results, and warned that funding shortfalls have reduced seat availability and enrollment.

CTE leader Tim Woody told the board the program will offer 11 summer "accelerator" camps this year (automotive, welding, construction, babysitting/CPR, culinary, robotics and others) and said nearly 300 students had already signed up. Woody said the district continues to expand hands‑on learning using virtual reality and mobile labs; he highlighted a "Skills on Wheels" trailer developed with industry partners including Bobcat and Denso and described a digital learning grant of nearly $300,000 used to support mobile equipment.

Woody said credentialing grew substantially: the district recorded 5,064 earned credentials in 2023–24 compared with 1,034 in 2021–22. He said many credentials are national certifications (AWS welding, CNA, pharmacy tech) that can support students entering the workforce or continuing postsecondary study. Woody also said the district has eight registered apprenticeships and 20 pre‑apprenticeship opportunities and is expanding partnerships with Mitchell Community College.

But Woody and other staff also flagged challenges. The presentation included a year‑to‑year enrollment decline of "almost a thousand students" in CTE between February 2024 and February 2025; Woody said the dip partly reflects five lost teaching positions over three years and reduced course offerings. The board and staff discussed Wethers Creek (a new building) as a site that could host trades programs and said program planning will consider industry demand and inclusive access (for example, accessible welding stations).

Student testimonials were part of the presentation: Leila Carter described how health science classes and CNA preparation helped her move toward nursing and college enrollment; another student, Erwin Koll, described how computer science classes and college courses led him to plan for a UNC Charlotte cybersecurity major.

Woody said the CTE local plan (required for state and federal funding) will be a voting item next week; staff will present the plan and associated local budgets for board approval.