Covington, VA (Feb. 18, 2026) - The month of February is nationally and locally recognized as Career and Technical Education Month, and Jackson River Technical Center continues to celebrate over 50 years in operation as an educational institution serving the Alleghany Highlands as a hub of workforce training within the public schools and adult sectors.
JRTC principal, Josh Craft is hosting an open house on Friday, February 27 to highlight programs, accomplishments and facilities and provide the opportunity for the community to visit the center and see students and instructors actively engaged in career and technical education.
Community members and parents are welcome to visit JRTC and take a self-guided tour of the facility and its 10 programs from 9:30 and 11:30 AM and from 12:30 to 2:30 PM. All visitors must check in with the office before beginning their tour. Alleghany Highlands Public Schools encourages all interested people to attend, no matter their role in the community.
“This is a great opportunity for partners, parents and anybody curious about what goes on over here on Country Club Lane to come to check us out and see our students engaged in their CTE programs. We are proud of our programs and the accomplishments of our students,” Craft said.
In addition to self-guided tours of the facility, visitors will be able to view the upscale playhouse constructed by Carpentry students. The playhouse is being auctioned off through an online sealed bid and will be on display on the front lawn during Open House hours. Profits generated from its sale will directly benefit the Carpentry program. Online bids will be accepted starting at noon on Monday, February 23, 2026. Anyone interested in submitting a bid may access the sealed online form through the link posted on the JRTC social channels and webpages.
JRTC opened as a regional vocational school in the fall of 1974, and it now serves as an integral part of Alleghany Highlands Public Schools.
The Alleghany Highlands Public Schools Division was created through the July 1, 2022, merger of Allegany County Public Schools, Covington City Public Schools, and Jackson River Technical Center. The school division, which serves approximately 2,700 students, is jointly funded by Alleghany County and the City of Covington.
Follow Jackson River Technical Center on Facebook and Instagram. School division news and events are regularly posted on Facebook at AHPublicSchools. The division website can be found at ahps.k12.va.us.
|  | Jackson River Technical Center Electricity III students wiring the upscale playhouse during early construction. JRTC will host an open house for the public on Friday, Feb. 27, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. (JRTC Photo)
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