RHS Career Technical Education students tour CertainTeed manufacturing plant as part of company’s workforce development initiative

Russellville High School Career Technical Education students go through visitor safety orientation after arriving at the CertainTeed facility.

On Wednesday morning, 13 Russellville High School students were the first locally to take part in a manufacturing workforce development program at the Saint-Gobain CertainTeed Roofing plant located off Walnut Gate Road in Russellville.

The workforce development initiative, called Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities (SFRC), was launched by Saint-Gobain North America to give students “a chance to explore immersive manufacturing environments with a focus on plant jobs that do not require an advanced degree, helping them connect what they learn in school to what’s possible in the workplace,” according to the Saint-Gobain North America website.

At 9 a.m., after arriving at the facility and being maneuvered through the security gate, the senior RHS students, all taking part in the RHS Career Technical Education (CTE) program, were led to a comfortable conference room, were given a brief safety orientation, introduced to a few members of the CertainTeed team, and were then split up into two groups: one group would tour the manufacturing plant while the other took part in a group challenge before swapping.

Following the safety orientation, CertainTeed Roofing plant manager Frederick Drake addressed the students seated around the conference table. After touting the company’s high starting wages and familial atmosphere, and detailing the importance of the manufacturing industry—an industry that added over $50 billion to Alabama’s economy last year—Drake implored the students to be engaged while on site.

“Be curious. Ask questions,” he told them.

The Franklin Free Press followed one group of six students throughout the event, starting off with the tour of the plant. Decked out in the required PPE—personal protective equipment—the tour, led by production lead Zach Broadfoot and pulper operator Josh Link (the other group was led by store room coordinator Mark Kresch and process engineer Josh Williams), began at—well, the beginning.

A member of CertainTeed’s maintenance department answers questions about his job and day-to-day responsibilities. (Courtesy: CertainTeed)

Starting at what was labeled the Stock Prep area, the group was taken through the control room, watched the glass mat rolling and wrapping processes, and visited the quality lab and the maintenance shop before finishing up at the storage and shipping areas. Along the way, Broadfoot and Link explained each step of the process and fielded questions from the students. Employees in each department did the same, especially in the maintenance department after a few students mentioned their interest in electrical and mechanical engineering.

On-site visits and tours like the one experienced by students Wednesday are extremely valuable, RHS Career and Technical Education Director Dr. AnnaKay Holland told the FFP. Not only are students able to see what the work and process looks like, it confirms that vital, high-paying careers are out there outside going the traditional four-year degree route.

“Hands-on tours to places like CertainTeed, a building materials manufacturer, are incredibly effective at showing students that valuable, well-paying careers in skilled trades and technical fields exist beyond the traditional four-year college path, often leading to immediate employment, less debt, and tangible skills through certifications or apprenticeships,” Holland said. “Student feedback reflected that students gained an excitement for trades and were able to see a real-world value in these careers. RHS CTE is trying to make sure that all of our students know that great jobs and careers exist in Franklin County, and we are trying to show them where those careers are located. For some of our students it creates a shift in career perspective. One of them told me, ‘I thought college was the only way to earn a good living, but this opens up new ideas for me.’”

Drake, during his introduction to the visiting students, echoed Holland, using his own story as an example.

“I became plant manager here, and I didn’t go to college,” said Drake, who entered the U.S. military after high school.

RHS students observe one step in the manufacturing process as its explained by CertainTeed production lead Zach Broadfoot. (Courtesy: CertainTeed)

“The manufacturing industry needs good people and hard workers. The work isn’t always easy, but if you work hard and do things the right way you can provide a great living for yourself and create a great life outside of work that you can spend with family and friends,” he added.

The other activity the CertainTeed team had lined up for the students was a challenge testing their problem-solving and process planning skills. Broken up into competing teams by Jessica Montgomery, a member of the human resources department, students had to deconstruct clicker pens, develop a process plan that would most efficiently and effectively reconstruct the pens, and then implement that plan to reconstruct more pens than the other team.

Montgomery, after a provided lunch, also spoke to the students about job opportunities and what qualifications industry employers like Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed are looking for in job candidates.

All together, the event lasted around three hours. And gauging from the reaction of students, it was time well spent fulfilling the stated purpose of Saint-Gobain’s SFRC initiative: to “spark curiosity, build awareness and inspire the next generation to pursue fulfilling manufacturing careers…”

As director of the RHS CTE program, Holland said important work is being done in the classroom, but it’s also critical that industry leaders like Saint-Gobain/CertainTeed have programs like SFRC that work hand-in-hand with students and career tech educators.

“I have always said CTE classes are all the things, and RHS CTE has the best teachers in the state. Career and Technical Education classes are a big deal, offering students hands-on training, industry skills, and pathways to high-demand careers in fields like tech, healthcare, trades, business and more, often leading to certifications or college credit right from high school, making them super relevant for today's job market! They're not just ‘vocational’ anymore, but comprehensive programs connecting academics with real-world jobs, preparing students for college or a great job after graduation,” Holland said.

“Industry partnerships, like those with Saint-Gobain/Certainteed, are extremely crucial for RHS Career Technical Education programs, providing vital real-world relevance, bridging the skills gap, offering hands-on experience like tours and internships, updating curriculum with emerging trends, and creating direct pathways to employment, ultimately boosting student employability and local economies. These connections transform abstract learning into tangible career opportunities, making CTE classes at RHS more engaging and effective,” she added. “RHS CTE wants to extend a huge thank you to Mr. Drake and his staff at Saint-Gobain/Certainteed for providing these opportunities to our students!”

One of two RHS student tour groups, led by CertainTeed employees Josh Link (left) and Zach Broadfoot (far right), prepped in PPE before entering the plant. (Courtesy: CertainTeed)

For his part, Drake said he was happy to open up the doors for RHS CTE students—students set to become the future of an industry workforce projected to grow by 8% over the next decade.

“It was a true blessing to host the bright students from Russellville High School, 'Go Tigers!', as part of Saint-Gobain's Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities program,” he said. “Our site has been a pillar of this community since 1981, and with God's help we are proud to continue providing good-paying jobs and community support. We aren't just a manufacturing facility; we are a family dedicated to building a strong future right here in Russellville.”