McDowell Tech pronounces new administrative appointments | Native Information

These appointments had been a part of a strategic realignment to position larger emphasis on selling workforce growth, which is central to the faculty’s mission, values and targets and its imaginative and prescient to “Study and Develop.” Two of these appointments had been promotions of long-time school staff, whereas the opposite resulted in a brand new administrator who’s a local of McDowell County, in line with a information launch.

The brand new appointments are:

Stacy Buff, affiliate vice-president of workforce growth;

Valerie Dobson, dean of curriculum packages;

Brandon Hensley, affiliate dean of profession and technical training.

“We’re excited to welcome Stacy, Valerie and Brandon to those new roles and are excited concerning the management, imaginative and prescient and experience they’ll deliver to our administration,” stated MTCC president Brian S. Merritt. “Collectively, they create over 45 years of dedication and results-oriented service to the North Carolina Group School System and the people, companies and neighborhood we serve. Their appointments signify a renewed laser-focus on workforce growth.”

In his new function as affiliate vice-president of workforce growth, Buff may have major duty for all focused features of workforce training, together with:

Trade engagement and exterior relations

The McDowell Apprenticeship Program (MAP), inclusive of all work-based studying alternatives

Workforce and persevering with education schemes

Quick-track profession coaching academies (e.g. Plumbing Stage I, Intro to Residential Electrical energy, and so forth.)

Emergency medical science coaching

Primary legislation enforcement coaching

School and profession readiness and human sources growth

Grownup Primary Training and Grownup Secondary Training

From 1993 till 2011, Buff held progressively accountable positions in legislation enforcement in western North Carolina and all through the state, working with Morganton Division of Public Security, Burke County Sheriff’s Workplace, N.C. State Legal professional Common’s Workplace and the N.C. Division of Motor Automobiles: License and Theft Bureau. Throughout that point, Buff additionally held instructing appointments at each McDowell Technical Group School and Western Piedmont Group School in legal justice and legislation enforcement coaching packages.

In 2011, Buff was named this system director/administrator of legislation enforcement coaching and emergency administration coaching at McDowell Tech, a place he held till 2018 when he was named dean of profession and technical training, a place he held till his present appointment.

Professionally, Buff has served on a lot of boards {and professional} associations through the years.

Buff holds an Affiliate Diploma in utilized science from Western Piedmont Group School (1993), a Bachelor of Science in legal justice from Lees McCrae School (1999), a Grasp’s Diploma in greater training, College and School Management from Appalachian State College (2018), and an Academic Specialist diploma, College and School Management from Appalachian State College (2020). He anticipates finishing his Physician of Training diploma in instructional management from Appalachian State College in 2023, in line with the information launch.

In her new function as dean of curriculum packages, Dobson will supervise two affiliate deans, one with major duty for curriculums in enterprise and school switch, and one with duty for curriculum packages in profession and technical training. Collectively, Dobson and the 2 affiliate deans shall be liable for all curriculum packages provided on the school, starting from well being sciences, cosmetology and welding, to enterprise administration and pc built-in machining, amongst others.

Dobson started instructing at McDowell Tech in 2001 as a school member in well being data know-how and was named program director/coordinator of well being data know-how in 2005, a job she held till her present appointment. As well as, since 2005, she has been division chair for all well being science packages.

Along with her educational and administrative positions, Dobson has served on a lot of college-wide committees

Professionally, Dobson has served on the Fee on Accreditation of Well being Informatics and Data Administration (CAHIIM), Well being Data Administration Accreditation Council (HIMAC), and has been a member of a number of skilled boards.

Dobson has additionally spoken at varied skilled affiliation conferences through the years, together with:

Dobson holds an Affiliate of Arts diploma/school switch from McDowell Technical Group School (1998), a Bachelor of Science diploma in well being data administration/administration from Western Carolina College (2000), a Grasp’s in well being science, well being science, grownup training and program analysis from Western Carolina College (2007), an Academic Specialist diploma, Increased Training and Group School Management from Appalachian State College (2021), and anticipates finishing her Ed.D. from N.C. State College in Group School Management in 2025, in line with the information launch.

In his new function as affiliate dean of profession and technical training, Hensley shall be liable for quite a lot of curriculum packages in vocational areas akin to heating, air con and refrigeration know-how; welding; automotive techniques know-how; electrical techniques know-how; mechatronics; engineering know-how and utilized science, amongst others. He will even work with human providers packages, like early childhood training, and shall be a key participant within the enhanced McDowell Apprenticeship Program and work-based studying efforts.

An engineer by coaching and expertise, Hensley started his full-time skilled profession as a software program check engineer with Built-in Industrial Data of Raleigh in 2002. In 2004, he moved to Morganton the place he grew to become lead design engineer and engineering supervisor with Toner Machining Applied sciences, a job he held till 2010 when he grew to become program coordinator of pc built-in machining at Western Piedmont Group School.

In 2016, Hensley was named division head of engineering applied sciences at Western Piedmont. In 2019, he moved to Catawba Valley Group School the place he grew to become senior challenge supervisor for technical packages. In his newest function earlier than accepting his present place at McDowell Tech, Hensley was affiliate dean of engineering and building applied sciences.

Hensley is a member of a lot of skilled organizations.

Hensley holds a Bachelor of Science diploma in know-how training, industrial know-how focus with a minor in graphic communications from N.C. State College (2003), a Bachelor of Science diploma in mechanical engineering from N.C. State College (2003), a Grasp of Science in know-how techniques from East Carolina College (2008), and anticipates receiving his physician of training in neighborhood school management from N.C. State College in 2025.

Hensley is returning dwelling to work in McDowell County the place he was raised and graduated from McDowell Excessive Faculty, in line with the information launch.

“These appointments reaffirm our dedication to selling workforce growth all through our area,” stated Merritt. “Modern management in these new, restructured roles will assist us concentrate on scholar studying, completion of high quality credentials, school switch and/or direct employment into high-demand, well-paying careers.”