High Point principal's home ‘sanctuary' is the perfect escape

Yahoo

10-05-2025

HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — The sign on the wall is supposed to set the tone.
'Welcome to the patio where memories are made and worries are few,' it says.
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Just below it is a new machine that is one of the few things that take Mike Hettenbach's mind off of work. Hettenbach is the principal of High Point Central High School — something that seems like a 25/8/366 job, if you know what I mean.
'For me, it's hard to shake the weight off my shoulder, so doing these things, sitting in here, watching the game. I've got neighbors driving by saying hi or come in,' Hettenbach said about the setup he has in his garage.
He has a fridge with sodas, beer and other drinks, pennants for various sports teams, a TV and his beloved wood carving machine.
'This is a CNC machine. I bought this about two years ago,' Hettenbach said. 'I've done a lot things with wood, scrap wood, junk wood, building that furniture over there, but I was just looking to piddle-paddle. My younger brother is a master craftsman of cabinets.'
Hettenbach uses mostly pre-coded programs on a computer that's connected to his wood cutter. One of the favorite things he makes are wall-sized plaques with the High Point Central bison logo that he gives to teachers as awards.
'One of my goals was for my staff and to kind of do a monthly Heart of the Herd, instead of doing just a certificate, making it a little bit more personal,' Hettenbach said.
The hobby has done what he wasn't sure was possible.
'I've never been one who was good a relaxing, but I've done a great job the last six months,' he said. 'This is kind of my sanctuary in here. You get back from work. You have a lot of weight on your shoulders and whatnot. You just decompress, get your mind focused on all the weight you take back.'
See the machine in action in this Saved By the Bell edition of The Buckley Report.
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