👥 Who: Fort Walton Beach High School Building Trades students, Superintendent Marcus Chambers, Instructor James Martin, Principal Lindsey Smith, district leaders, and local business owners.
🔨 What: An exclusive preview of a student-built tiny house and the launch of a fundraising campaign for the 2026 IBS competition.
📅 When: Preview event held today.
📍 Where: Fort Walton Beach High School Building Trades program site.
❓ Why: To highlight student craftsmanship, promote workforce development, and raise funds for the students’ trip to compete internationally in Orlando.
Fort Walton Beach — The Fort Walton Beach High School (FWBHS) Building Trades program opened its workshop doors today to Okaloosa County School District leadership, School Board members, local business owners, and community partners for an exclusive behind-the-scenes preview of its ongoing student-built tiny house project. The event offered guests a firsthand look at the high-level craftsmanship students are developing through one of the district’s most hands-on Career and Technical Education initiatives.
During the preview, visitors toured the partially completed tiny house — a fully functioning structure built from the ground up by Building Trades students under the guidance of instructor and former professional contractor James Martin. Guests watched as students demonstrated framing, carpentry, insulation installation, electrical layout, plumbing routing, and interior finishing, all while explaining the techniques and safety standards they had learned throughout the project.
The tiny house will ultimately measure roughly 200 square feet and include a working kitchen, bathroom, sleeping loft, built-in storage, and energy-efficient design features. Students have had a hand in every phase of the build, from blueprint interpretation to tool operation to material selection.
The event also gave attendees an opportunity to meet the Fort Walton Beach High School Project Management team — the group of students preparing to represent Okaloosa County at the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) in Orlando this February. The IBS Student Competition draws teams from across the country to present construction, budgeting, scheduling, and project management proposals to industry professionals on an international stage.
Superintendent Marcus Chambers praised the program’s impact and the students’ dedication.
“Our Building Trades students are gaining real-world skills that directly translate into high-demand careers, and this tiny house project is a remarkable example of hands-on learning at its best,” Chambers said. “We are incredibly proud of the craftsmanship, teamwork, and professionalism these students demonstrate every day. Supporting their journey to the International Builders’ Show is not just an investment in a trip; it’s an investment in the future workforce of Okaloosa County.”
With the preview event serving as the formal kickoff for the program’s fundraising campaign, the school hopes to raise enough money to cover travel, hotel accommodations, registration fees, competition materials, and related expenses. Although the tiny house will eventually be sold — with proceeds reinvested back into the Building Trades program — the immediate focus is ensuring students can travel to Orlando and participate in a competition that can open doors to apprenticeships, scholarships, and industry careers.
Instructor James Martin said the support from district and community leaders is both motivating and meaningful for the students.
“This tiny house is a true workforce-development project where our students are learning to become tomorrow’s skilled trades professionals,” Martin said. “Seeing our district leadership and the business community walk through a home our students are building from the ground up — and hearing their excitement about supporting our trip to Orlando — means everything to these kids.”
Principal Lindsey Smith emphasized that the tiny house project represents the heart of the school’s mission.
“Our students have put their hearts, minds, and incredible skill into this tiny house, and we are so proud of what they’ve accomplished,” Smith said. “This project represents the very best of Fort Walton Beach High School: innovation, dedication, and a commitment to high-quality career and technical education. We are thrilled to support this team as they take their talents to Orlando and compete on an international stage.”
The Building Trades program, which has grown significantly in recent years, plays a key role in preparing students for careers in construction, electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, and other high-demand fields. Many program graduates enter the workforce immediately, while others pursue additional education through apprenticeships or technical colleges.
Businesses, civic groups, and individuals interested in sponsoring the 2026 IBS trip, donating materials or equipment, or expressing early interest in purchasing the completed tiny house are encouraged to contact Building Trades instructor James Martin at James.Martin@okaloosaschools.com.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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