How Plumas Charter School is Forging Futures
Plumas Charter School (PCS), a rural K–12 school nestled between the Sierra Nevada and Cascades, is proving that small teams can drive big change. With support from state workforce grants and local partnerships, the school is innovating to create new pathways for students seeking career opportunities close to home.
In this region, access to jobs, training, and resources has always been limited. That challenge became even more urgent in 2021 when the Dixie Fire — the second-largest wildfire in California’s history — scorched nearly one million acres of forest and destroyed the town of Greenville. Rebuilding after the fire underscored the need for career technical education (CTE) programs, especially in advanced manufacturing to address workforce shortages in the sector.
For Plumas Charter School Executive Director, Taletha Washburn, addressing that need has been a driving mission. With support from K12 Strong Workforce Program (SWP) grants and industry partnerships, the school is scaling its Advanced Manufacturing Program with pathways in Welding, Product Innovation and Design, and Machining and Forming Technologies.
“We hear all the time that the trades are dying. Who’s going to be our next contractor, our next electrician?” said Washburn. “Our program is about building the next generation of tradespeople — highly paid, sought after, and essential for our rural communities.”
Fostering Partnerships and Hands-On Learning
PCS launched its first welding pathway in 2023, starting with just 12 students. Without a dedicated welding shop, the school used virtual welding simulators to give students a safe environment to build confidence before ever striking a live weld.
The following year, a second SWP grant allowed the school to expand the program, adding two new pathways and offering hands-on learning through a partnership with Jesse Lazzarino, owner of Lazzarino Machine Works in Quincy. A self-proclaimed “shop kid” from Plumas County, Lazzarino won a national skills competition that led him to work at Honda Motor Company in Torrance before returning home to Quincy to start his own business. Now, he serves as the school’s manufacturing and metal fabrication pathway coordinator, teaching the next generation of students the skills that helped him succeed. “Jesse is a product of what we’re trying to do,” Washburn said.
PCS also partnered with Sierra Pacific Industries, the region’s largest employer, to offer apprenticeships, internships, field trips, and guest speakers. Ultimately, the partnership is designed to create opportunities for high-paying jobs right out of high school, after completing a PCS pathway and earning related certifications.
The school is also aligning its pathway courses to allow students to earn credit toward Butte College’s competitive advanced manufacturing program, broadening their exposure to the field beyond welding and furthering their technical education.
Rekindling a Shop While Rebuilding the Community
Building upon PCS’ success with its first two SWP grants, a third one will support the next phase of its ambitious initiative: the revitalization of a long-dormant welding shop at the former Greenville High School campus, the new home for PCS’ Indian Valley location. The shop will be equipped with new industry standard equipment and technology, set to open in spring 2026.
“That is going to be huge, because Greenville is actively trying to rebuild after the fire,” Washburn said. “As homes and businesses are being rebuilt, there’s so much opportunity for the community to engage in manufacturing work with us. Our students will learn the skills to be the next line of builders and manufacturers, helping to drive community transformation.”
From virtual simulators and local partnerships to a dedicated welding shop in Greenville, Washburn sees the school’s advanced manufacturing program as a direct investment in the region’s future. After all, it’s not just about students learning a trade; it’s about believing they have opportunities to thrive in their local communities.
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Plumas Charter School, a rural K–12 school in the Sierra Nevada, is proving that small schools can spark big change. With support from Strong Workforce Program grants, PCS is building advanced manufacturing pathways in welding, product design, and machining that connect students to high-demand careers close to home.
From virtual welding simulators to hands-on learning with local employers, students are gaining real-world skills while helping their community rebuild after the 2021 Dixie Fire. A new welding shop opening in Greenville in 2026 will take this work even further.
October 2025