By Barry H. Hendrix
The Thomasville City Schools District has posted an opening for a new “Modern Manufacturing” career tech teacher position.
Kate Huggins, Career Tech Director with the Thomasville school system, spoke Feb. 24 at the meeting of the Thomasville City Board of Education in the Thomasville High School Library.
The City of Thomasville will provide the funding to cover salary and the benefits for the position, she said.
The new Modern Manufacturing Career Tech program will train THS students to be workforce-ready upon graduation. The expectation is to provide a pipeline of prepared, capable entry-level employees for local industry. “They want workers coming out of high school ready to be entry-level workers, that have the skills to hit the ground running,” Huggins said.
The manufacturing curriculum will be tailored to fit our area by the Modern Manufacturing Program (MMP) Center of Excellence from Tuscaloosa. Also, MMP provides equipment for the new career tech program. The old Ag building on the THS campus will be adapted for the new curriculum.
The program has been endorsed by area professionals such as Gray Allen, Vice President with Burkes Mechanical and Electrical; Robby Huggins, Superintendent with Burkes Mechanical; Gray Skipper, Vice President with Scotch Plywood; Rod Chandler, Complex/Plant manager with Westervelt; and Colby Blake, Plant Superintendent with Westervelt. The new career tech program has also gained support from Packaging Corporation of America, LP Building Solutions, Canfor, G.A. West, PowerSouth and Lavender, Inc.
“I want a program that is actually relevant to industry here,” Huggins said. Buy-in from local industry leaders was crucial for the success of the new program. “I wanted it to be a win for industry and a win for our kids.” The goal of the program for THS graduates to know they have a job in area industry. These will be jobs that will keep our young people in Clarke County, she said.
“We want to build sustained partnerships.” Area professionals will be welcome to come into the manufacturing classroom on the THS campus and offer their experience. Industry have also committed to donate equipment, Huggins said.
The new program will also strengthen and reinforce “soft skills” such as reliability, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, professionalism and a work ethic. “We want the kids, every day when they come to class, to punch in-and-out and to be on-time.”
The instruction will be aligned with hands-on learning so THS graduates can contribute immediately and add value to the workplace teams they join.
“We know of so many kids that will benefit from this,” Huggins said.
In other action from the Feb. 24 meeting, the board approved the Financial Report for January 2026. Accounts payable totaled $307,820.07, and payroll totaled $949,975.43.
• The board approved a new Library Media policy and Procedure Manual.
• A new policy was approved concerning Communication Assistance for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency and/or Disabilities.
• The board approved participation in the Alabama Department of Education Early Childhood Education (ADECE) Apprenticeship Program.
• Two overnight field trips were approved: THS girls’ basketball team’s trip to the South Regional Tournament Feb. 17 and 23 in Montgomery;
And the THS baseball team’s trip March 6 and 7 to Tuscaloosa.
• The board approved the Personnel Report:
(resignations)
Lora Carson, Child Nutrition Program at Thomasville Elementary School, retirement resignation;
(volunteers)
Terry Sewell, Andy Dean and Chloe Drinkard.
The next meeting of the school board will be at 5 p.m. on March 24 in the THS Library.