GREENSBORO, N.C. — A school rebuild in the heart of historic Glenwood in Greensboro has all the markings of a classic construction site, but each board, beam and backfill was blessed by something special -- a woman's touch.
"At the earlier stages of the project, I did a lot of tracking down contracts, making sure we had signed them, and they had been signed. These days, I do a lot of material tracking," said Madison Allred, as she showed WFMY News 2's Meghann Mollerus around the up-and-coming Peck Expeditionary Learning Academy.
Allred, 22, is paving her own track to smash stereotypes, at a time when the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows men outnumber women nine to one in construction jobs.
"I watched a lot of HGTV growing up, and I played a lot of hours on Minecraft, and I would build neighborhoods. I loved being creative, and I loved building things," she smiled.
She still does. Appointed by the D.A. Everett/Christman Company team, the Appalachian State University graduate is crafting a new chapter for Guilford County Schools (GCS) -- her alma mater.
"In fourth grade, I watched our Summerfield Elementary go through some renovations and additions, so that was super cool, then in fifth grade, I got to experience those new spaces, like a media center and new cafeteria. It's just amazing to come full-circle now," she said.
She recalled being one of only two women in most of her construction management classes at App State and finding strength, not deterrence, in the distinction.
"I was lucky to have one other girl sit with me at a time, and I would always gravitate toward the girl that I saw," she said.
Allred's story is resonating within the Peck community, especially with moms.
PROJECT WITH PURPOSE
"Women power! I love that!" said V Phoeung, who graduated from Peck and now watches her two boys walk the same hundred-year-old hallways. Phoeung is thrilled to see the new school building next door take shape.
"It's long overdue, and the time has come! I want better for the kids, and this community really needed a lot," she admitted.
A lot has happened since the WFMY team visited the site in March. The $79 million-dollar project from voter-approved bond money is now under roof, giving glimpses of its innovative identity.
"Our staff, when they walk in in the morning, get to see the amazing progress being done. There's a building there! It's not just a plot of land anymore. You can start to dream it, feel it and see it," said Peck principal Ashley Triplett, EdD.
Triplett looks at the renderings with hope for her Peck community, knowing former GCS students like Allred feel called to come home.
"She works really, really hard. She's out there. I see her walking the site all the time. She's visible. Our students see that, and when they see that, they realize they can be anything they want to be and do anything they want to do," Triplett said.
As for what Allred wants to do in the future, she plans to follow her calling.
"I hope to just continue to work on future projects. I'm interested in healthcare or Guilford County Schools (GCS) or higher education," Allred said.
She knows each passion project takes strong hands and heart.
"Just to kind of be a smiling face every day," she added.
Because, she knows, she is building a foundation...that is female.
FUTURE LOGISTICS
Allred said the project is meeting its deadlines and should be ready for students by next school year. GCS representatives confirmed the district is still determining who will go there, since the new Peck will include middle school as a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade academy (Peck Expeditionary Learning Academy).