Billingsley has been at West Frankfort for four years. He teaches welding, metal fabrication, horticulture and construction trades. Shorter class time and other limitations due to the pandemic have created great challenges for these hands on classes.

A nationwide shortage of skilled trades labor means the classes Billingsley and his fellow instructors are teaching can lead to career opportunities for their students, but that’s just part of the story.

One project Billingsley’s class takes on each year is taking care of the ferns you see hanging in downtown West Frankfort. The students will trim up, divide, and store the ferns in the greenhouse for the winter. According to Billingsley, this project not only saves the city about a thousand dollars, but the kids enjoy seeing their efforts on display for everyone to see.

As student TJ Willis told us, “He always helps his students out with his classes and in life. He makes me enjoy coming to school everyday and teaches me new things everyday. If you ever need advice on anything he will be there for you. He is an all around great person and I look up to him a lot.”

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