Norfolk Technical Center carpentry students build weather shelters in partnership with National Institute of Aerospace

Students in the Norfolk Technical Center carpentry program have built weather shelters for schools across Hampton Roads through a partnership that began when Betsy McAllister of the National Institute of Aerospace contacted the district, a Norfolk Public Schools announcement said.

The district said the project began about six months earlier when McAllister reached out to arrange the work. Students installed nine shelters at various schools in Hampton, and the transcript says additional installations are underway elsewhere in Hampton Roads.

Students described the project as new hands‑on experience that expanded their existing carpentry skills, including mixing concrete and site installation. One student said, "We haven't really installed anything like this before, so it's good experience to have ... mixing concrete ... it's just building on and expanding upon skills that we already have." Another student said, "I'm very hands on, I love working with my hands ..." and praised the practical learning.

A speaker identified in the transcript as praising the students said, "Mister Crawford's students are amazing ... they're engaged, they're knowledgeable." The transcript does not include a direct statement from Mister Crawford himself.

The transcript records no formal board or budget action related to the shelters; it describes a partnership and student learning opportunity as reported by district communications.