The work of one United Way community school in the Swannanoa Valley during and after Helene
by Caroline Parker EdNC | Sept 25, 2025
“When you see all the things that happened last year, you know people are like, ‘It’s just unbelievable.’ And I’m like, it’s absolutely believable. We knew we could do it. You just hope you never have to be put to that test.”
Bradley McMahan, Principal at C.D. Owen Middle School
Since Owen Middle was an established community school, the relationship already existed for families to look there for resources, information, and a gathering place after Helene. Wells said he was used to coordinating logistics in his job as community school coordinator, so he put those same skills to use in Helene’s relief and recovery.
As far as leading the school during such a large and unprecedented natural disaster, McMahan credits his community. “I was never dealing with it alone,” he said.