Pickens County Career & Technology Center

05/31/2026

We are proud of you, Ayden!

We’re excited to highlight another former SDPC student who is now helping bring Gateway to Innovation to life.

Ayden King is working on site this summer with DRI Electric, the electrical contractor for G2i. Ayden is a 2025 graduate of Liberty High School and previously attended Chastain Road Elementary School and Liberty Middle School. He also completed the Electrical pathway at the Pickens County Career & Technology Center.

It’s especially meaningful to see a former SDPC student who developed his skills through our schools and CTE programs now helping build a place that will inspire future generations of students.

We’re grateful to DRI Electric for investing in students like Ayden and for being a part of the work happening at G2i. We’re proud of Ayden and excited to see where his path leads next!

05/20/2026

We are proud to recognize and congratulate Firefighting Instructor Kevin Maloney for being named the School District of Pickens County Secondary Outstanding First-Year Educator!

Kevin has done an outstanding job in his first year at the PCCTC, building strong relationships with students while providing meaningful, hands-on learning experiences in the Firefighting program. His passion for teaching and dedication to preparing students for future careers as firefighters have already made a tremendous impact on our school community.

Congratulations, Kevin! We are proud to have you at the Pickens County Career & Technology Center!

05/18/2026

On Friday, May 15, students who completed Mr. Albertson’s AOPA Aviation program had the unforgettable opportunity to take flight!

Sixteen students participated in this year’s annual student flights, where they were able to take the controls and fly over their high schools. For many, this was their first time in an airplane, making the experience even more special.

We are grateful to Mr. Albertson, his advisors Skeets Cooper, Mike Bartolf, Carlos Salinas, and James Pressley, and the Pickens County Airport for helping make this incredible opportunity possible for our students.

We are proud of these students and excited to see where their futures take them. The sky is no longer the limit; it is only the beginning.

05/10/2026

We are proud to announce the PCCTC 2026 Support Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year! 🎉

Our Support Employee of the Year, Nurse Phyllis Merck, serves as our school nurse. Nurse Merck is a caring and compassionate presence for both students and staff each day. Whether she is providing medical care, offering encouragement, or simply being a listening ear, she consistently goes above and beyond to support our school community. Her dedication and servant heart make a difference in countless lives.

Our Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Kimberly Pesnell, teaches Health Care Science and does an incredible job preparing students for future careers in healthcare. Kimberly’s dedication to her students at PCCTC makes a tremendous difference. Her commitment is evident in the time she gives, as she is usually one of the last to leave each day. Her students absolutely love her classes because of the meaningful relationships she builds with each of them. Her passion for teaching and commitment to student success are evident in everything she does.

We are incredibly proud of these two outstanding individuals and grateful for the impact they make at the Pickens County Career & Technology Center each day!

05/10/2026

Pickens County, we need your help! ❤️

Gateway to Innovation is being built for our community, our students, and the future of Pickens County. We would love for you to help us grow our page and invite others to follow along on this exciting journey.

Whether you’re a parent, former student, educator, business leader, or someone who simply believes in creating more opportunities for students right here at home, we want you to be part of the G2i story.

📲 Visit our page and follow us here:
Gateway to Innovation (G2i) page

Then help us spread the word by inviting your Facebook friends:
• Go to our page
• Click the three dots (…)
• Select “Invite Friends”
• Choose your friends and send the invite

Thank you for supporting the future of Pickens County and helping us share the vision of Gateway to Innovation!

05/08/2026

🔥 Future Firefighters in Action! 🔥

Our Firefighter 2 students have been busy putting their skills to the test through live burn training using scale models of single-story and two-story homes right here on campus.

Students studied flow path, thermal imaging, fire attack, ventilation, and even conducted a fire investigation on a burned structure. They also completed their final drill day at the Pickens County Fire Training Facility, practicing hose advancement, search and rescue, incident command, firefighter emergencies, and more.

This is real-world training with real fire, preparing our students for real-life situations.

We are proud of these future firefighters and can’t wait to see the impact they will make in our communities! 🚒🔥

05/07/2026

05/06/2026

Happy National School Nurse Day to Nurse Phyllis Merck!

Today, we celebrate and thank Nurse Merck for the care, compassion, and dedication she shows each day at the Pickens County Career & Technology Center. She plays such an important role in supporting the health and well-being of our students and staff, and we are so grateful for the calm, caring presence she brings to our campus.

Thank you, Nurse Merck, for all you do to take care of our PCCTC family! 💙

05/02/2026

Congratulations to our 165 PCCTC students who were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society earlier today!

This recognition reflects their hard work, character, leadership, and commitment to excellence in Career and Technical Education. We are incredibly proud of these students and excited to see how they continue to represent PCCTC in their schools, careers, and community.

Congratulations, NTHS inductees!