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KENANSVILLE — Duplin County Schools is expanding hands-on construction training for students through the North Carolina Homebuilders grant, which will support facility upgrades, industry credentials and workforce-ready learning at East Duplin High School. The district is one of 10 statewide selected to strengthen career pathways for students, including those considered at-risk and those with disabilities.
Duplin County Schools will receive $20,000 in funding to support the new woodworking and construction trades program at East Duplin High School and address long-standing facility limitations. School officials said the grant will fund a dedicated 30-by-30-foot metal shop beside the current building, improving safety and allowing the program to grow in response to strong student interest.
“We are deeply grateful for this support, and we look forward to seeing the student projects, credentials, and partnerships that will grow out of these investments in our programs,” said Erica Jones, director of 9–13 Curriculum and Career & Technical Education.
Construction is planned for the spring. With expanded shop space, EDHS students will begin live production work and prepare to participate in Pender County’s SHED competition during its first full year.
Participants can earn National Center for Construction Education and Research certifications and OSHA safety credentials, which are designed to prepare students for entry-level employment and continued training after graduation.
The EDHS program includes coursework in Construction Core, Carpentry I & II, and Woodworking I & II, and provides opportunities for students to earn industry-recognized credentials, including NCCER Construction Core, Carpentry I & II, OSHA 10 Construction Safety, and the Woodwork Career Alliance Sawblade Certificate.
“These grants put hammers, tools and real-world skills into the hands of students across North Carolina,” said North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green. “When students build homes, sheds, and structures alongside industry professionals, they’re not just learning a trade — they’re building a pathway to a career and strengthening their communities.”
This is the second consecutive North Carolina Homebuilders grant secured by Duplin County Schools to strengthen skilled trades education for students, and help expand hands-on learning environments, support industry partnerships, and prepare students for high-demand careers.
In the 2024-25 school year, the district received $20,000 to implement a program change at James Kenan High School, shifting from full-scale homebuilding projects to shed construction. This adjustment addressed scheduling and curriculum timing limitations associated with long-term homebuilding, enabling instruction to continue throughout the school year. Grant funds were used to remove an existing house foundation and install a concrete slab and covered metal shop space, which was completed in the fall of 2024.
According to school officials, the updated facility now serves 210 students and supports both carpentry and electrical courses. The shared space has enabled coordinated instruction between the two programs, with students working jointly on shed construction projects. To date, two student-built sheds have been completed and are planned for local sale, providing applied trade experience and supporting community use.
“Securing these grants has been an enormous opportunity for our students,” said Jones. “The enhanced shop spaces at James Kenan and East Duplin allow us to deliver hands-on, industry-aligned instruction that prepares students for real careers in the skilled trades.”
