Pathways in Action

Hedgesville High School and Musselman High School were both named among the Top 5 high schools in West Virginia for Career & Technical Education (CTE) performance. Rankings were based on the state’s six accountability indicators: participants, concentrators, completers, NOCTI performance, work-based learning, and teacher endorsements. This recognition highlights the outstanding efforts of students, teachers, and administrators who continue to elevate CTE excellence across the district.

Berkeley County Schools earned 91 total points on the 2024–2025 CTE Accountability Report, surpassing the state’s benchmark of 75 points—a remarkable achievement for students, teachers, and programs districtwide.

• Participation: Over half of students earned at least one CTE credit.

• Completion: 11% finished all four courses in a CTE program of study.

• Work-Based Learning: 22% gained real-world experience.

• Performance: 73% met or exceeded workforce entry benchmarks.

These results reflect Berkeley County’s continued commitment to career readiness, hands-on learning, and instructional excellence—and are a direct reflection of the dedication and expertise of our CTE instructors across the district.

Congratulations to Matt Welch, Broadcasting instructor at Musselman High School, who received funding through the Berkeley County Industrial Park Development Fund. The grant supports workforce development, job training, and employability initiatives, aligning with Berkeley County Schools’ CTE goals.

Mr. Welch leads documentary-style projects like Hammer Time and student-run podcasts—Moving the Chainz, Apple Music Review, Cinema Chat, and Rollin’ With the Dug—available on Spotify. The new funding will provide state-of-the-art equipment, expanding students’ hands-on experience in broadcasting and digital media.

When Justin Way, Millworking and Cabinetmaking instructor, stumbled upon a small surf shop in York, Maine during a road trip, he had no idea it would inspire his next classroom project. The shop, Grain Surfboards, crafts boards from locally sourced cedar wood instead of fiberglass—an ecofriendly and sustainable approach that immediately caught his attention.

With a lifelong passion for surfing—sparked in middle school through youth group trips—Way decided to attend Grain’s three-day intensive workshop, which ran from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. Over the course of the workshop, he learned to transform raw cedar into a finished surfboard using mostly hand tools, completing each step from gluing and clamping to carving and shaping.

The process combined modern precision (an internal frame pre-cut with a CNC machine) with traditional craftsmanship, resulting in a hollow cedar board with cork accents bent around its interior frame.

Way now hopes to bring that same process and creativity into his classroom. His goal is for students to one day have the opportunity to design and build their own paddle boards, from concept to completion. With future access to a CNC machine, students would be able to cut their own board frames before assembling, shaping, and finishing them by hand—blending engineering, design, and woodworking into one dynamic, real-world project.

Fall in Berkeley County means apples—and this season, CTE students have turned that tradition into hands-on learning and community connection. At the Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival, Baking and Pastry students from Hedgesville High School and Musselman High School showcased their craftsmanship by baking dozens of apple pies, many decorated with lattice crusts, pastry leaves, and festive turkeys to capture the spirit of the season.

Several Hedgesville students also earned top honors in the Buds Division of the festival’s apple pie contest:

🥇 1st Place – Alexa Smith

🥈 2nd Place – Allison Thompson

🥉 3rd Place – Madison Chavarria

And in the Blossom Division, Baking & Pastry instructor Maddie Taylor proudly took home 1st place—a testament to the skill and mentorship she brings to her students every day.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department continued a cherished local tradition, making homemade apple butter by peeling, cutting, and slowly stirring apples to perfection before jarring and selling their creations throughout the community. Students also produced fresh apple cider, bringing authentic farm-to-table learning to life.

As a senior and manager of the Sweet Apple Café, Josh Drake has transformed his love for creativity into leadership that motivates those around him. What started as an interest in trying new things has evolved into a commitment to growth—both personal and professional. Guided by Chef Nauman, he’s developed patience, confidence, and a passion for mentoring younger students step by step.

Under his direction, the café continues to expand its menu, offering inventive flavor combinations and new challenges for the team. For him, the café is more than a class—it’s a real business that teaches collaboration, communication, and life skills. "It’s more than baking—it’s learning how to lead, create, and lift others up." His legacy will be passing on those same values to the next manager who will carry the Sweet Apple Café tradition forward.

Students from the Martinsburg High School Millwork & Cabinetmaking and Marketing classes joined forces to design and create a media board that captures the excitement of fall sports season. The hands-on project blended craftsmanship and creativity—Millwork students constructed the photo booth frame, while Marketing students handled the design, branding, and promotional elements.

The finished piece serves as a school spirit photo booth, giving students and fans a fun, interactive way to celebrate their teams. This collaboration showcases how CTE programs connect design, production, and marketing skills to create something both functional and community-centered.