ON THE COVER

After more than two years of the pandemic’s changing and reshaping the educational landscape, 2022 answered many questions about how education would reemerge on the other side of the crisis.

If Mississippi CTE is a snapshot of the new normal so many anticipated, the world is headed toward greater positivity, generosity, connection and community.

I’m proud to say our programs hit the ground running in 2022 stronger and more influential than ever, finding fresh inspiration and reserves of adaptability that enabled educators and students to solve local problems and emerge more connected to and generous toward their neighbors than ever.

Vicksburg-Warren and Claiborne County School Districts (p. 12) partnered with energy industry leaders to demonstrate how — in response to 2019 energy legislation — redesigning their schools into an energy academy model helps students relate their career interests with academic and CTE interests.

Further south, Lamar County Career and Technical Center’s (CTC’s) Aimee Reams and Selena Parker were named Mississippi Association of Career Technical Education (MS ACTE) Teacher of the Year and New Teacher of the Year, respectively (p. 18), after showing themselves the models of adaptability during the pandemic.

At the same time, Starkville-Oktibbeha School District’s Lenora Hogan was honored as MS ACTE Administrator of the Year for her accountability, innovation and supportive approach to the programs she leads at Millsaps CTC (p. 24).

Speaking of generosity and connection, Leland CTC’s Agriculture program — led by Delta native Kevion Young — provided 5,000 pounds of fresh produce and started and maintained community gardens to provide locals access to healthy groceries during and after the pandemic’s disruption to the supply chain (p. 4)

As if those stories aren’t enough evidence of CTE’s incredible ability to create connection, you’ll see how a chance meeting at New Teacher Induction training led to love and marriage for two new educators (p. 8).

I hope you enjoy seeing the new face our state’s CTE programs greeted the new normal with as much as I have — as no stranger to unforeseeable obstacles and natural disasters, our programs have come back bigger and stronger than ever!

Wendy Clemons

Associate Superintendent of Secondary Education, Career and Technical Education and Professional Development

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