Allen Ashlock
Director’s Volunteer Service Award
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Henry/Carroll
Building Skills Through Service
Allen Ashlock transforms community service into a powerful extension of the classroom, giving students opportunities to apply technical skills while improving the communities they serve.
As the Residential Building Maintenance instructor at TCAT Henry/Carroll, Ashlock connects SkillsUSA, hands-on learning, workforce preparation, and civic responsibility.
His students complete real projects with real schedules, inspections, partners, and community expectations. Through those experiences, they develop technical ability alongside reliability, professionalism, teamwork, and pride in their work.
Measurable Service and Community Impact
Years with Habitat for Humanity
Ashlock has led an annual building partnership with Habitat for Humanity for three years, expanding student leadership and strengthening the project each year.
Gold Volunteer Service Awards
Ashlock and his students earned Gold-level President’s Volunteer Service Awards during each of the past two years.
Henry County Teacher of the Year
The Paris/Henry County Chamber of Commerce named Ashlock the 2025 Henry County Teacher of the Year—the first recipient from TCAT Henry/Carroll.
Community Service as a Training Ground
Ashlock selects community projects that allow students to experience the realities of professional work. Students learn to follow schedules, respond to weather and delays, maintain safety standards, meet inspections, and complete commitments made to community partners.
- Built concession stands for local parks
- Replaced windows at the Henry County Courthouse
- Constructed Santa’s House for Downtown Paris
- Completed Habitat for Humanity projects
- Practiced framing and sheetrock installation
- Applied siding, plumbing, and electrical skills
- Followed job-site safety and tool procedures
- Completed work that passed building inspections
Bringing the SkillsUSA Framework to Life
Ashlock’s service-based instruction integrates all three components of the SkillsUSA Framework. Students develop technical competence while learning responsibility, leadership, teamwork, communication, and service.
Personal Skills
Ashlock emphasizes work ethic, dependability, self-motivation, integrity, and responsibility from the beginning of the program.
Workplace Skills
Real projects require students to communicate, manage time, solve problems, adapt to delays, work in teams, and meet professional expectations.
Technical Skills Grounded in Academics
Students apply framing, sheetrock, siding, plumbing, electrical, safety, tool-use, and construction-planning skills in authentic work environments.
Connecting Students to SkillsUSA and Careers
When asked about involving his students in SkillsUSA, Ashlock’s response was simple: “Count me in.” That willingness reflects the same spirit he brings to community projects, classroom instruction, and student mentoring.
He encouraged students to demonstrate their abilities through SkillsUSA, including participation on the TeamWorks build team at the state conference. His guidance helped students see SkillsUSA as an opportunity for both professional and personal growth.
Ashlock also brings industry representatives into the classroom. Residential contractors, commercial construction unions, and national construction companies meet with students to discuss career opportunities and workforce expectations.
These connections give students confidence that their training leads to real employment opportunities and that Ashlock will help them build the bridge from education to career.
Representing TCAT Henry/Carroll
Ashlock collaborated with administrators, staff, faculty, and students to build a float for the annual World’s Biggest Fish Fry Parade, one of the Paris community’s largest events.
The project earned the top parade trophy and was selected as the General Manager’s Choice at the 72nd World’s Biggest Fish Fry.
The project demonstrated the same qualities Ashlock develops in his students: collaboration, craftsmanship, planning, community pride, and completing work to a high standard.
In a Graduate’s Words
“Mr. Ashlock has the passion for helping tradesmen prepare for their careers and helping them reach their potential. Because of the connections he created, I had no fear that I would not find a job.”
About Allen Ashlock
Allen Ashlock is in his third year as the Residential Building Maintenance instructor at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Henry/Carroll.
From the beginning of his tenure, Ashlock has sought opportunities for students to gain real-world experience outside the controlled environment of the classroom and shop. He believes students should learn not only construction techniques, but also scheduling, safety, teamwork, quality standards, and responsibility to clients and community partners.
His students have completed projects for Habitat for Humanity, the Downtown Paris Association, Henry County, local parks, and other community organizations. Through these projects, students develop technical proficiency while learning the value of volunteerism and civic responsibility.
Ashlock supports SkillsUSA personally as well as professionally. In addition to guiding his students, he supported and encouraged his son, Tanner Ashlock, through service as a SkillsUSA state officer and later as a national officer.
His leadership has strengthened community partnerships, increased the visibility of TCAT Henry/Carroll, and prepared students to enter the workforce with skill, confidence, professionalism, and a commitment to serving others.