Fresno Students Get Real-World Construction Experience

Duncan Polytechnical High School partners with local business to provide hands-on training for building and construction students.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Students from Duncan Polytechnical High School in Fresno, California have been spending about six hours per week working on-site at a new bar and restaurant called Moses McQueen's, gaining valuable real-world construction experience. The juniors and seniors have been preparing concrete, finishing grading, and learning the realities of construction work under the guidance of their instructor and industry partner NexGeneral Construction.

Why it matters

This partnership provides an important pipeline for students to gain practical skills and potentially secure jobs in the local construction industry after graduation. It also helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and the demands of an actual job site, giving students a more realistic understanding of the construction trade.

The details

The building and construction students have been working alongside their instructor, Ash Jones, to complete various tasks at the Moses McQueen's site, including pouring concrete and finishing grading. They've had to adjust to the more serious and less forgiving nature of the job site compared to the classroom setting. NexGeneral Construction owner Phillip Kliewer has been impressed with the students' attentiveness and work ethic, and has already hired two recent graduates from the program.

  • The students have been working on-site a couple of days per week since early February 2026.
  • The new bar and restaurant, Moses McQueen's, is currently scheduled to open in March 2026.

The players

Duncan Polytechnical High School

A public high school in Fresno, California that offers vocational and technical education programs, including a building and construction pathway.

Ash Jones

The instructor who oversees the building and construction students and coaches them through the hands-on projects.

NexGeneral Construction

A local construction company that has partnered with Duncan Polytechnical High School to provide real-world job site experience for the students.

Phillip Kliewer

The owner of NexGeneral Construction, who has been impressed with the quality of work and work ethic demonstrated by the high school students.

Joseph Preciado

A junior or senior student at Duncan Polytechnical High School who has been participating in the hands-on construction work at the Moses McQueen's site.

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What they’re saying

“We just learned to kind of have some like responsibility, and well, not really to horse around because it's more serious.”

— Joseph Preciado, Student (abc30.com)

“There's some forgiveness in the classroom setting, whereas on the job site, the stakes are higher.”

— Ash Jones, Instructor (abc30.com)

“They listen well to direction. They do things right the first time. They're hard workers. They put their nose down.”

— Phillip Kliewer, Owner, NexGeneral Construction (abc30.com)

What’s next

The students will continue working on-site a couple of days a week until the opening of Moses McQueen's, which is currently scheduled for March 2026.

The takeaway

This hands-on construction experience for high school students provides a valuable pathway to potential careers in the local building and construction industry, helping to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world job site demands.