Our Story & History

SECHS picket sign

The Stokes Early College High School is a North Carolina Cooperative Innovative High School (CIHS) that provides opportunities for the citizens of Stokes County and their children that are truly unique and the school has earned its place among the finest schools in Stokes County.  The Stokes Early College High School (SECHS) was created as a collaborative effort between the Stokes County School System, Forsyth Technical Community College (Forsyth Tech), and the Stokes County Government.  It first opened in August 2009 with around 50 ninth grade students and was housed temporarily at the Forsyth Tech Northwest Center in Tobaccoville, NC for the 2009-2010 school year.

In the 2010-2011 school year, the SECHS moved to its current location on Dodgetown Road in the Meadows Community of Walnut Cove, NC.  This was the beginning of the Forsyth Technical Community College Stokes County Campus which started with one modular building that housed both Forsyth Tech and SECHS personnel.  Mrs. Ann Watts was the Director of Operations for the Forsyth Tech Stokes Center.  In 2011-2012, a second modular building was added.  On May 9, 2013, the SECHS held its first high school commencement as the first 29 Falcons to graduate from the high school.  Later that day, many of these same students graduated from Forsyth Tech with their Associate Degrees.  The 2016-2017 school year was one of growth for the Stokes Center Campus, as Forsyth Tech moved into a newly opened brick and mortar facility that began to house all of the college course offerings.  The SECHS and other Stokes County Schools departments such as the Data Center and Exceptional Children’s Division became sole occupants of the two original modular buildings.  In 2019-2020 the Forsyth Tech Trades Building was completed at the Stokes County Campus, but was unable to begin to offer courses until the 2020-2021 year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic closures.  Whereas, the primary focus of the Stokes Early College has been preparing students for graduation with an AA/AS and pushing them towards a four year college, there will now be an opportunity for and emphasis upon a career in the trades such as training as a electrician, plumbing, and welding.

Today, the SECHS houses between 160-180 students.  We are dedicated to providing rich, personalized opportunities for a diverse body of students, to be challenged academically and engaged creatively, in order to cultivate educational and occupational success and to maximize the potential of each and every learner. Students enter the Early College as ninth graders and graduate not only with a high school diploma, but also have the opportunity to receive a either an Associate of Arts degree, an Associate of Science degree, some college credits, or a career certification or diploma.  Typically, around eighty-five percent of the students who go on to pursue college ultimately finish.

Most of our students receive significant financial incentives from our North Carolina colleges as it is a wise investment for the colleges to support students who already have two years of academics “under their belts.”  As a school, it is committed to working together as a team with the community, parents, and students to create truly unique learning opportunities for its students and to provide with the support resources and resources to be successful in college and in life.  It does this through deliberate rigorous instruction that is intentionally connected to real world opportunities. Its goal is to promote the well-being of all students and inspire them to take flight and to meet the challenges of the 21st century on their own terms.

In the 2019-2020 school year, the Stokes County School Board approved for SECHS students to participate in extra-curricular activities at the three traditional high schools, beginning with the winter sport season. The extra-curricular plan allows students to participate in activities at their traditional home school such as interscholastic athletics, Reserve Officer Training Corps, Drama, and Band as schedules and opportunities allow. 

At the Stokes Early High School your journey can begin and our future will be even brighter than our past. 

Current Faculty at the Stokes Early College

Principal:

David Durham

2020-

Administrative Assistant:

Cheryl Pasley

2022-

Counselor:

Jennifer Spargo

2023-

Forsyth Tech College Liaison:

Holly Kidd

2022-

Math:

Riley Hopkins

2024-

Science:

Sayrd Price

2012-

Math:

Katie Cook

2020-

Science:

Shellie Poston

2024-

English:

Alyssa Smith

2022-

History:

Patrick Minges

2010-

English:

Katie Lemons

Spr 2022-

History:

Steven Lewis

Spr 2019-

Past Faculty at the Stokes Early College

Principal

 

Counselor

 

Administrative Assistant

 

Jimmy Via

Fall 2009

Patrick Minges

2009-2010

Monique Hawkins

2009-2012

Craig Boyles

Spr 2010

David Durham

2010-2011

Kalan Holder

2012-Fall 2013

Kim Marion

2010-2012

Ellen Johnson

2011-2013

Crystal Yontz

Spr 2014

Steve Hall

2012-Fall 2014

Kevie Ayers

2013-2016

Nancy Smith

2014-2022

Misti Holloway

Spr 2015-2020

Elizabeth Cox-Franklin

2016-2022

 

 

 

 

Brandi Summey

2022-2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Math

 

Science

 

English

 

Michael Robbins

2009-2015

Sandra Stevens

2009-2012

Sam Brown

2009-2016

Mary Martin

Fall 2011

Mike Shaw

2010-2016

Lori Burrow

2011-2014

Shane Castevens

Spr 2012-Fall 2019

Quinton Owens

Spr 2015

Andrew Johnson

2016-2018

Cynthia Goins

Spr 2020

 Christian Smith

 2016-2024

Elizabeth Guiles

2014-2021

John Smith

2015-2022

 

 

David Priddy

2018-2021

 Heather King

 2022-2024

 

 

Kevin Clary

Fall 2021

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Cain

2021-2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

History

 

Spanish

 

Forsyth Tech College Liaison

 

Salena Howlett

2013-Fall 2018

Dave Caswell

2012-Fall 2013

Michelle Bratton

2009-2012

 

 

Alissa Combs-Draughn

Spr 2014-2017

Rhonda Moyer

2012-2018

 Tutor/Media

 

 

 

Tim Sands

2018-Fall 2021

 Kevin Clary

 Spr 2022-2024

 

 

Brandi Summey

Spring 2022