CTE, Community, and Creativity: How Washington County Youth Are Redesigning Their Future

Wysonza James, Washington County K–12 School Community School Coordinator

I’ve spent more than 30 years in education, and if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this: our young people in Washington County have gifts that deserve to be seen. I’ve taught here for so long that I’ve now taught the parents—and in many cases, the grandparents—of the students I work with today. That’s the blessing of living in a small, tight-knit place: the relationships run deep, and the love runs deeper.

After retiring, I thought I was ready to rest. Thirty years felt like a good stopping point. But the truth is, my heart wasn’t ready to let go of the children in this community. So when the Community School Coordinator role opened, I came right back home. Now I get to support the babies I once taught—and their babies too. And let me tell you, these kids keep me hopeful every single day.

People sometimes talk about our county as “low-wealth.” But I’ve always said: low-wealth does not mean low-talent.
Our students are creative. They’re brilliant. They’re resourceful. When other people focus on what we lack, I see the possibility in every child who walks through our doors.

One of the most powerful reminders of that came during a recent trip to Charlotte. Our high school students in the CTE sports marketing program were invited to the Charlotte Hornets’ branding challenge. Many of them had never been to Charlotte, let alone inside a professional sports arena. But they walked in ready to learn.

The task was simple: come up with a logo and pitch in under an hour. Other schools showed up in matching polos and jackets, looking polished and prepared. My kids had no matching outfits—just their creativity, teamwork, and confidence. I joked that we looked like the “Bad News Bears.” But when it came time to present, they absolutely shined.

And we won.

Out of nearly 20 schools, our students’ design took the top prize. The Hornets plan to use their artwork, and they’ve already invited them back for another round. I was so proud I talked about it for days. Watching those students stand tall on that stage reminded me why exposure and opportunity matter for rural youth. They are ready for the world—they just need to see more of it.

What inspired me most that day wasn’t just the win. It was watching our students explore new career paths—media, sales, fan engagement, marketing. They learned that behind every big moment in sports is a whole world of work they could be part of.

The creativity doesn’t stop there. Our students are so strong with technology that a local theater owner downtown has asked to work with them to update his website and digital materials, with plans to begin that work in the new year. That’s what happens when a community opens its doors to its young people—they step right in and make something better.

This is what I love about the Community Schools model. When the community comes into the school, and the school reaches into the community, everybody grows. Local businesses get support. Students get real experience. Families feel more connected. And our young people start to see themselves as contributors to the place they call home. This is the embodiment of our district motto, Lifting As We Climb.

I hope more people across Washington County get to see what I see every day: kids who are talented, thoughtful, and full of potential. Kids who can build logos in an hour, support local businesses with tech skills, and imagine futures far bigger than the boundaries of our town.

My dream is that these opportunities help our students feel proud of where they come from—and confident in where they’re going. Whether they stay here or travel far, I want them to know this: they are capable of shaping their future, and they are already shaping ours.

That’s what keeps me here.
That’s what keeps me hopeful.

And that’s why I believe Washington County youth are redesigning not just their own futures, but the future of this entire community—one creative idea at a time.