Career tech education benefits FC students

During the month of February, we have had the opportunity to join teachers and administrators across the county – not to mention across the state and the country – in celebration of all the benefits career and technical education offers to our students.

February is Career and Technical Education Month, set aside to highlight the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs – across Franklin County, Alabama and the nation.

CTE, as described by the Association for Career and Technical Education, directly prepares students for high-wage, high-demand careers in many different fields, including healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, hospitality and management and more. CTE encompasses many different types of education, from classroom learning, to certification programs, to work-based learning opportunities outside the classroom.

Throughout the month we have spotlighted some of these programs that are available to students in both Franklin County and Russellville City Schools, including collision repair, job shadowing programs, health science certifications and more. We have shared Red Bay student Savannah Shaw’s experience chatting CTE with Gov. Kay Ivey and RCS’ participation in CTE on the Hill, and we highlighted the Russellville City Council’s efforts to celebrate CTE by approving a resolution in honor of the observance.

We want to join in the chorus of voices celebrating these tremendous programs that provide such an array of opportunities for our students – our future workforce. From the flourishing Career Tech Academy at Russellville High School, to the Franklin County Career Technical Center, great things are being accomplished by the instructors who lead the courses, impacting the next generation and, thereby, generations to follow.