Editor-in-Chief .......... Wendy Clemons
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We are thrilled to introduce the newest addition to the Mississippi Department of Education team and the State Career and Technical Education (CTE) community, Brett Robinson. As of June 1, Robinson took on the esteemed role of State CTE Director, and we are eager to share his wealth of experience and expertise with all of you.
Robinson’s journey in education has been nothing short of exemplary, spanning nearly 20 years of dedication and service. He began his career as a teacher and coach, and over time, his passion for fostering student success and growth led him to various leadership roles, including serving as CTE Director in the Clinton Public School District and, most recently, as the principal of Clinton High School (CHS) for the past six years.
A true advocate for education, Robinson’s commitment to continuous improvement is evident in his academic journey. He is a proud graduate of CHS and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and general sciences from Mississippi State University. Building on this foundation, he pursued and achieved both a master’s degree and a specialist’s degree in Education Leadership from Mississippi College.
In addition to his local district leadership, Robinson has been an active participant in various state committees and taskforces, contributing to the advancement of College and Career Readiness, Innovative Schools and CTE. His involvement includes being a valuable member of the CTE Directors’ Advisory Panel and the Principals’ Advisory Panel. Currently, he serves as a member of the Mississippi Commission on School Accreditation, further solidifying his commitment to enhancing educational standards across the state.
Robinson’s exceptional contributions have not gone unnoticed, as he has been recognized as Teacher of the Year, Administrator of the Year and the State Principal of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Secondary School Principals.
Beyond his professional achievements, Robinson finds strength and support in his loving family. He is happily married to Kelly, and together, they are proud parents to three wonderful children.
Northeast High School (NEHS) juniors Jazmin
Escovar Hernandez and Cristiana Hopson hold the virtual reality headsets purchased by the Lauderdale County School District (LCSD) using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding through the Mississippi Department of Education.
As we welcome Robinson to his new role as State CTE Director, we look forward to his innovative vision and leadership, which we are confident will shape and enrich the CTE landscape in Mississippi. His dedication to empowering students, supporting educators and enhancing opportunities for all is sure to make a positive impact on the lives of countless individuals within our state.
Join us in celebrating this significant appointment and stay tuned for exciting updates and initiatives under Robinson’s guidance. Together, we can continue to build a brighter future for education and workforce readiness in Mississippi.
Sincerely,
The Connections Magazine StaffWe want to hear about your success stories, awards and program accomplishments!
Please submit your story ideas at wwwrcumsstateedu/connections/shareyourstoryideas
COVID-19 impacted education in ways never faced before. School doors were closed, and students had to learn virtually.
For career and technical education (CTE) students, vital hands-on learning opportunities were disrupted. Even as schools reopened and a return to a “new normal” began, stricter health and safety guidelines began to be implemented,
making those on-the-job training opportunities more difficult.
The Lauderdale County School District (LCSD) found a way to bring those career experiences to the students by using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding through the Mississippi Department of Education to purchase virtual reality (VR) headsets that brought career experiences to the students.
“With VR, students can simulate re-
al-world scenarios and practice their skills in a safe, controlled environment,” Rob Smith, LCSD CTE director, said.
“They can also receive immediate feedback from their instructors, which can help improve their performance and understanding of the material.”
Heather LaCoste, Ed.D., a student
services coordinator in the LCSD, guided the ESSER fund application process. The application noted research-based data suggesting VR’s ability to engage students of all learning types, decrease learning acquisition time and improve information retention.
LaCoste searched for vendors to help select and program the headsets and train the teachers. She learned Meridian Community College instructor Daniel Ethridge was using VR in his classroom and had launched his own company, VMXO. After going through the vendor selection process, Ethridge was awarded the contract.
“It was really a smooth transition. He’s made himself available to do training just
with the health science teachers as well as multiple trainings with all the CTE teachers. He made those trainings as small and convenient as possible,” LaCoste said.
Teachers trained with Ethridge in July and started using the headsets in the fall. VR has enhanced teaching methods and provided additional resources to make learning more engaging for students.
“We have medical mannequins in our lab for simulations, but having VR opens up opportunities for my students to experience simulations they may not have otherwise had,” Jessica Lee, an LCSD health science instructor with more than 20 years in the health care industry, said. “(VR) simulations are much more realistic and interac-
tive, allowing students to get a more precise idea of how to effectively and accurately perform a skill before ever having their own patient.”
VR has allowed Lee’s students to study human anatomy in new ways and immerse themselves in realistic training experiences in the classroom. It has reinvigorated the learning process.
“VR gives us hands-on experiences without endangering real-life patients,” Harley White, a Health Science student at Northeast High School (NEHS), said. “It teaches us the skills we need to be better prepared for health careers.”
“Virtual reality makes learning about health care fun and exciting,” NEHS student Christiana
real. All I keep thinking about, though, is how much fun it is.”
Students love using the headsets so much that providing equal access has been a welcome challenge for LCSD to navigate. The headsets are housed in a portable case, allowing for easy transport to each of the four high school campuses in different corners of Lauderdale County.
Teachers in the district have seen the benefits of using VR headsets and inquired about how they can use them in their classrooms.
“We didn’t expect the middle schools to start reaching out to us,” LaCoste said. “I had a teacher inquire about using the VR headsets to let her students tour the Anne Frank house.”
LaCoste and her fellow student services coordinators started taking the headsets to the middle schools’ English Language Arts classrooms as a recruiting tool for the CTE programs. With so many students using the headsets, the district learned proper cleaning procedures from a local virologist.
As VR becomes more entrenched in the CTE classroom, it has the potential to reduce operating costs and open the doors for more students to take CTE courses.
“By using VR simulations, schools can reduce the need for expensive equipment and materials, which can make these programs more accessible to students from low-income backgrounds,” Smith said.
And the immersive experiences available through VR will build skills that make the future workforce even stronger.
“Virtual reality will open up endless simulations that will better prepare students for the health care industry of the future,” Lee said.
The Central Mississippi Planning and Development District (CMPDD) recently launched a career coaching program in Vicksburg, and the Vicksburg-Warren School District (VWSD) proudly welcomed Monica Watson and Alexandria Burrell as the newest supports for student success.
Through this program, high schools will be allowed to advocate for workforce development and training and expose students to postsecondary career and training opportunities in their communities. Students will also have the opportunity to learn about career opportunities and employer expectations.
The addition of the career coaches provides VWSD students an advocate and mentor to walk them through career planning experiences and work‐based learning opportunities designed to change students’ lives and make communities stronger.
The intervention of career coaches will be paramount in the VWSD, where the mission is to ensure that all students graduate college-, life- and career-ready. Additionally, employers will see an additional pipeline of skilled workers who have the technical, academic and hands‐on training needed to match unfilled vacancies in their companies both locally and statewide.
“The Career Coach positions at each of the high schools brings an additional support to our district as we continue to encourage and build positive relationships through networking with industry and increase one on one coaching, particularly for those students who need it the most,” Innovative District Director Curtis Ross said.
The career coach model has proven successful in several Mississippi school districts, as 13 new career coaches have been deployed throughout four Mississippi counties — Hinds, Madison, Adams and Warren.
The VWSD has embraced the career coaches and received the full support of the teachers, students and administration.
Alexandria Burrell, career coach at Warren Central High School, said the career coaches have been widely accepted. She highlighted the placement of a student in a paid internship role with Keller Williams Realty-New Beginnings under the leadership of Lucy DeRossette, an independent real estate contractor.
“We are meeting students where they
are on the road; whether that road is leading them to college or to the workplace,” Burrell said.
The introduction of the career coaches increases the opportunities to positively influence educational outcomes and career trajectories for VWSD students.
The career coaches assist students in identifying career goals through personal and group consultation while promoting academic and personal success through student advocacy.
As the Career Coach program grows, so will the opportunities for students to develop their skills and talents so they can prepare, prefer and perform as a part of Mississippi’s tapestry of world-class workforce and highly accomplished academic talent.
Tupelo Career-Technical Center (TCTC) established the Miss Industry Pageant in 2019. After being put on pause the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pageant returned in the fall.
Thirty-eight contestants participated in the pageant representing TCTC’s Early Childhood Education (ECE), Teacher Academy, Law and Public Safety, Family and Consumer Science, Culinary Arts, Construction, Automotive and Digital Media Technology programs.
The pageant, hosted as a fundraiser for the center’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) student organization, consisted of professional and formal attire.
The FCCLA chapter uses funds from the event to provide financial assistance
for students attending the state and national competitions.
Natasha Richey, ECE teacher and FCCLA advisor, and Cerritos Johnson, student service coordinator and FCCLA co-advisor, sponsored the event.
Teacher Academy instructor Melanie Wood, Law and Public Safety instructor Kimetra Bernard and Family and Consumer Science instructor Hayley Hogue assisted with the pageant.
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ing air bag systems. After learning about the components of this vital vehicle safety mechanism, the students had the opportunity to deploy air bags to show the results of incorrect testing.
The Mississippi Construction Education Foundation (MCEF), the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and industry partners hosted the MCEF SkillsUSA State Championship construction competition inside the Trade Mart at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. Following the competition, eight guard houses were donated by MCEF and SkillsUSA to
the fairgrounds.
“On behalf of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, I want to thank the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation and SkillsUSA for their generous donation,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson.
“These organizations are teaching our young people valuable life skills as well as preparing them for the workforce,
which is a serious need in both our state and country. I want to thank the students who participated in this event and for their hard work in building the guard houses that will be used by our staff for countless events in the years to come.”
This event worked with local schools to recruit and train a quality construction workforce and provide leadership in the industry for educating and promot-
ing careers in construction, industrial maintenance, energy and manufacturing. As part of the competition, students built eight custom guard houses for the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. These guard houses, donated by MCEF and SkillsUSA, will be utilized by State Fairgrounds personnel along the Midway and other locations on the grounds for law enforcement and security purposes.
The MCEF SkillsUSA State Championship consisted of three levels of competition — high school, community
college and apprenticeship — with over 300 competitors in 11 craft areas, all competing at the same time for prizes and a trip to nationals.
For more information on the various events held at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, a branch of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, visit www.mississippifairgrounds.com and follow the Mississippi State Fairgrounds on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Several George County students pre-
sented one of the guard houses completed during the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation (MCEF) SkillsUSA State Championship to Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson, as well as Mississippi State Fairgrounds security and personnel. Following the competition, MCEF and Skills USA donated eight custom guard houses to be utilized by State Fairgrounds personnel along the Midway and other locations on the grounds for law enforcement and security purposes.
When Mississippi State University
Extension Agent Natalie Ray was first introduced to Associate Extension Professor Ryan Akers’ My Preparedness Initiative (MyPI) several years ago, she immediately thought of the benefits it
could bring to students in West Point Career Technical Center’s (WPCTC’s) Health Science classes.
MyPI is a nationally recognized youth preparedness program offered by MSU Extension. Through a comprehensive curriculum and hands-on experiences, MyPI has proven to have
a significant impact on participants, fostering a sense of civic duty, enhancing leadership qualities and promoting community resilience.
Akers said among the six age-appropriate youth preparedness programs offered by MSU Extension, MyPI stands out as the capstone program. It is re-
garded as the most aggressive in terms of its content, learning outcomes and overall experience. The program has gained recognition, including from the White House, for its comprehensive curriculum and ability to engage participants effectively.
“We’ve seen noticeable increases in family communication and cohesion, as well as individual decision-making, quality of leadership and teamwork characteristics,” Akers said.
The resulting partnership between Ray and Health Science teacher Larisa Zeigelman has developed strong networks with local assets such as professionals in emergency management and first responders. This collaboration allows for the utilization of existing access to students, ensuring the program’s reach and impact.
“The MyPI program goes beyond the classroom, providing students with valuable simulated field experiences that give them a real understanding of what emergencies entail. Throughout the semester, I visit the classroom about 30 times, ensuring students receive comprehensive training in emergency preparedness,” Ray said.
With a focus on engaging, educating and empowering youth, MyPI equips WPCTC students with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate emergency situations and become valuable assets to their communities.
“Upon completing the program, students receive a backpack filled with emergency preparedness supplies. This encourages them to be proactive in sharing their skills within their families and communities in times of crisis,” Ray said.
Participants in the MyPI program consistently demonstrate gains in knowledge comprehension from the
beginning to the end of the program. This includes understanding various risks and hazards, knowing available resources in emergencies and acquiring essential skills for aiding others before first responders arrive.
“They learn that triage is an event, not just a room in a building, for example,” Ray said. “They learn basic things like how to lie patients head to toe, so if one gets sick, they’ll get sick on the next person’s feet instead of their head. That always gets a few laughs, but there are just things the students would not encounter in a typical clinical setting. MyPI provides that experience,” Ray said.
One of the program’s significant achievements is increasing participants’ sense of responsibility toward their communities. MyPI instills an awareness that emergencies and disasters are inevitable, with participants playing a role in protecting their communities. This empowerment encourages them to contribute to the emergency management response team when needed, positioning them as valuable assets rather than impediments.
Akers said the MyPI program maintains a consistent delivery approach across different locations, including Clay County. While instructors teach outside of the school system in most instances, the comprehensive and aggressive curriculum remains constant. All participants are required to complete PREP+6 service projects, which involve developing emergency supply kits and communication plans for their own households, plus six additional ones.
Ray and Akers say participants, parents, instructors and community officials in West Point, as well as other locations where MyPI is implemented, give overwhelmingly positive feedback
for the program. Students express appreciation for the eye-opening concepts taught in the program, saying they feel more empowered and educated about emergency preparedness. Parents report similar sentiments and recognize the focus on potential careers in related fields. Ray says the local responders and emergency management personnel notice a change in students’ perspectives on their roles in emergency situations.
“Students are encouraged to remember that their responsibility is to their families and neighbors first,” Ray says. “If they feel intimidated by the idea of knowing what to do in an emergency because of what they see through MyPI, I remind them that they are there as support for the first responders, not as responders themselves. That seems to give them a new outlook on their newly
earned skills.”
that,” Akers said. “Based on their participation and successful completion of the program, they know that they have a role in protecting their communities from harm.”
International Paper Company in Vicksburg hosted an Engineering Night for 29 Vicksburg Warren School district students and their parents last semester.
Liz Johnson, communications manager for the company, helped arrange the event for the students. The event included a rare tour of the facility, where students received an upclose look at the large rolls of paper that are loaded on internal rail cars to prepare for shipping.
“I believe we were able to show these students not only what kind of exciting career an engineering degree can offer, but also other career roles offered here at International
Paper,” Johnson said. “I believe one parent even expressed his interest in joining our team.”
The event also introduced students to various engineering careers and allowed them to watch some of the company’s engineers performing their job functions.
Industry tours help spark students’ interest in STEM careers and allow students to see the profession up close and apply relevant classroom lessons.
VWSD looks forward to engaging in more of these opportunities to enhance students’ preparedness for college and careers after graduation.
Vicksburg Warren School District students are learning how to find their own success in today’s ever evolving world.
Jaylenn Coleman, a culinary arts completer at the Vicksburg Warren Career and Technical Center (VWCTC), is an example of that. Coleman, with the assistance of Warren Central High School Career Coach Alexandria Burrell, secured an internship with Keller Williams real estate agency.
Under the tutelage of Lucy DeRossette, Coleman will learn the ins and outs of the real estate world.
The internship opportunity is provided through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), a program designed to help individuals gain work experience and assist employers with needed services that can be performed by the internship program’s participants. Coleman will work 20 hours per week at the agency and receive additional high school credit as an enrollee in VWCTC’s work-based learning program.
Workforce and Career & Technical Education coming together to make an impact, in the life of our students as well as our community, is a momentous occasion.
Warren Central Junior High School acknowledged Career and Technical Education Month in February. Eighth graders taking Keystone researched a career and presented what they learned to their classmates. The engaging activity allowed students to analyze and learn about careers they were interested in, and the presentations were a success.
Students in the Houston Career and Technology Center’s FFA chapter assisted the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chickasaw County office wrap Flowering Dogwood, Bald
Cypress, Redbud, Sawtooth Oak, River Birch and Persimmon trees for its annual tree give away. Debby Carnathan with the Chickasaw County NRCS spoke to students about the importance of trees.
Children in Pascagoula and surrounding communities will get to be a train engineer thanks to the work of students at the College and Career Technical Institute (CCTI) in the Pascagoula-Gautier School District.
Mississippi Export (MSE) Railroad, a 42-mile short line railroad, asked CCTI to create a playground train honoring MSE’s rich history for the Pascagoula River Audubon Center. MSE sought CCTI’s assistance after seeing the sculpture the center’s Welding, Precision
Machine, HVAC and Polymer Science classes created for the Walter Anderson Museum’s 100th anniversary.
Welding instructor Jason Brister, Precision Machine instructor Gregory Bosarge and Polymer Science instructor Toben Dubose designed the concept — resembling one of MSE’s first locomotives — and researched the best paints to use outdoors.
Brister and Bosarge wanted to include interactive elements, so they incorporated a bell that rings and a turn-
able steering wheel.
Second-year students started the project, and first-year Welding and Precision Machine students came on board after finishing the safety portions of the courses. Creation of the project began at the start of the 2022-23 school year and finished in November.
CCTI’s STEM lab engraved a brass plate listing the names of those who contributed to the project. The plaque is displayed on the front of the locomotive.
Kosciusko-Attala Career Tech Center (KACTC) hosted a reality fair for its students. The Reality Fair is an interactive financial literacy tool for high school students. This is a unique
opportunity for students to experience some of the financial challenges they will face when they start life on their own. It is a hands-on experience in which students are given a career and then rotate through various stations requiring them to live within
their monthly salary while paying for basic needs such as housing, utilities, transportation, clothing and food. As always, the CTC relied heavily on community partnerships in order to increase the effectiveness of the activity. As students visited each
station, they were able to network with various community members. KACTC administrators are grateful to the community members who assisted with the fair, saying they have helped prepare KACTC students for the future.
Opposite page: The community members who participated along with their affiliate businesses (L to R): Mark Gilmore: Mark Gilmore Photography, Luke Eaton: Cain, Inc., Riley Hudson: Kosciusko Attala Partnership, Darren Milner: Attala County Bank,
Derik Hinson: Franks Chevrolet, Robert Oswalt: National Guard, Tara Kyle: Attala County School District, Wendy Grade: Holmes Community College, Selena Schuster: Attala County School District, Jessica Jones: Sta-Home, James Hodges: Attala County School District, Lynn McCafferty: Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition, Becky Hamilton: MSU Extension Service, Angel Albin MacDonald: State Farm Insurance, Sharron Davis: Attala County Schools, Beau Varner: MSU Extension Service, Amy Price: Attala County School District, Tracy Hardy: Attala County School District, Kedyra Brooks: North Central
Planning Development District, Joy Trehern: Attala County School District, Dawn Hodges: Attala County School District, Sheri Burrell: Attala County School District, Suede Ferri: Attala County School District, Betty Bermond: Attala County School District, Lorean Kilbert: Attala County School District, Tessa Horn: Attala County School District, Veronica Brooks: North Central Planning Development District, Kyle Hammond: Attala County School District, Melissa Townsend: Boswell Media, Semone Olive: Kosciusko School District, Zach Bost: Kosciusko School District
Helping and doing good for others and the community can make a real difference in the lives of people and organizations in need.
Career and technical education (CTE) students in the Vicksburg-Warren School District participated in community service opportunities during February’s CTE Month.
Health Science I and II students practiced taking vital signs of students and staff for Healthy Heart Awareness. Business, Marketing and Finance students designed heart awareness information cards and prepared treats for the 100 residents of the Bluff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center.
National Technical Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America students donated baby diapers to the community-wide diaper drive.
These community service projects allowed students the opportunity to practice important employability skills — such as leadership, problem-solving, responsibility and time management — and apply their classroom learning to real-world experiences while improving the lives of others.
A powerful tornado struck Rolling Fork on March 24, devastating the small community physically and emotionally. Volunteers from across the country converged on the town to pick up the pieces and help the residents of Rolling Fork
find some hope amid the darkness.
Josh Phillips, Clinton High School (CHS) culinary arts instructor, and 10 of his Year 1 students had the opportunity to travel to the community and use food to help offer a glimmer of hope in a challenging season of life for the residents of Rolling Fork.
Donna Rush, a friend from Phillips’ church and the former owner of a small food service business, approached him about using his culinary arts experience with Mercy Chefs, an organization that brings mobile kitchens to areas ravaged by natural disasters to provide restaurant-quality meals and clean water for
victims, volunteers and first responders.
Phillips’ heart for service made him jump at the opportunity, but he also knew it would be a fantastic opportunity for his students. However, organizing a 150-mile round trip in three days made him skeptical it would happen.
He received approval from Bill Harden, CHS CTE director, on April 3, but he still had to find a bus driver. He called a personal friend who taught special education and drove a bus in the district, and she got approval that afternoon.
“Usually it takes at least two weeks to get bus approval and all of the other approval needed to take a trip like this. I really felt it was meant for the students to experience this because I honestly went into it not expecting to be able to go. I am so grateful to the Clinton Public School District for their support and providing this opportunity for my students,” Phillips said.
Permission slips were signed, and on April 6, Phillips and his students set off for Rolling Fork.
Seeing the devastation as they entered Rolling Fork was life-altering for the group.
“I have never seen anything like that with the chaos, debris and displacement
“As I looked out of the bus window at the tarps that covered damaged roofs and broken houses, my heart was immediately filled with empathy for the people of this town.”
- Sumaiya Alaili,CHS
sophomore
of people,” Phillips said.
Seeing homes and businesses reduced to rubble overwhelmed the group and made them count their blessings.
“As I looked out of the bus window at the tarps that covered damaged roofs and broken houses, my heart was immediately filled with empathy for the people of this town,” sophomore Sumaiya Alaili said. “Witnessing the aftermath of the devastating tornado made me realize how fortunate I am to have a
safe and secure home.”
The team arrived at Sharkey-Issaquena
Mercy Chefs prepared meals a day in advance, so the group utilized the knife skills learned in their class to dice onions and shred lettuce for the next day’s taco bar and plated food on the serving line.
Academy, the home base for relief efforts, rolled up their sleeves and got serving.
However, what came in most handy was the ServSafe Food Handler certification his students earn at the start of each school year. Phillips said having that certification helped them get approved to volunteer quickly, but it was also essential from a safety and sanitation standpoint.
“Knowing we helped hundreds of other people through our service and work made every minute enjoyable. It showed us that there isn’t a limit to what you can do in culinary arts.”
- Asia Davenport, CHS sophomore
“(Mercy Chefs) is very strict on sanitation because they don’t know who they’re giving the food to. The cleaning, sanitation and hand-washing skills are very important,” Phillips said. “They knew our students had that education, and when they observed us, they said, ‘Yeah, you know what you’re doing.’”
The group met Mercy Chefs’ on-location executive chef and saw the mobile kitchen in action. They also spoke with two Rolling Fork restaurant workers who Mercy Chefs hired to assist with feeding the community and volunteers after the storm destroyed the restaurant.
The trip also showed them another career path in the industry by providing firsthand experience; an organization like Mercy Chefs that serves in areas ravaged by natural disasters and operates three community kitchens is a rewarding alternative to traditional culinary work.
“This opportunity was something I never imagined being part of,” junior Autumn Brooks said. “Helping the rest of the team provide hearty meals for those in need gave a sense of comfort and family and showed me another side of the culinary industry. Before taking culinary arts, I always thought it stopped at being a chef, whether it was private or
at home or catering events. This experience has broadened my outlook on the culinary field.”
As the students wrapped the day in Rolling Fork, the bus ride home allowed moments to reflect on how the skills they learned in culinary arts helped a community trying to put the pieces back together.
“Knowing we helped hundreds of other people through our service and work made every minute enjoyable,” sophomore Asia Davenport said. “It showed us that there isn’t a limit to what you can do in culinary arts.”
It also demonstrated to Phillips and his students the power of a carefully prepared meal to heal wounds.
Students in Lee County Career and Technical Center’s Culinary Arts program recently toured the Mississippi University for Women’s Culinary Arts Institute. Mindy Johnson’s students had the opportunity to view the classroom and lab facilities and watch current Culinary Arts Institute students create dishes in the kitchen.
Having learned the ins and outs of flying drones, five second-year students in Lee County Career Technical Center’s (LCCTC’s) Unmanned Aerial Systems class recently earned their commercial drone pilot licenses. They traveled to Olive Branch to complete the Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 exam last month.
Tommy Towery, a senior at Mooreville High School (MHS), has always been interested in aviation and feels experience gained in the class will help in his career.
He has already been accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy and hopes to become an astronautical engineer.
In the meantime, Towery takes photos of sunsets and landscapes with a drone
he owns and plans to venture into real estate photography now that he has earned his drone pilot license.
Instructor Noah Bass began teaching the Unmanned Aerial Systems class when LCCTC opened in November 2021. It’s one of eight career pathways offered at the center.
In year one, students begin learning the basics of flying using simulators before they head outside for hands-on experience. They learn FAA rules and regulations, build quadcopters and learn programming along the way.
During the second year, they spend the first nine weeks preparing for the FAA Part 107 exam. Through the remainder of the year, students will continue to research and fly different types of drones while learning about different drone uses, including crop surveying, 3D modeling, mapping and topography.
LCCTC’s drone class was the third such program established in the state, Bass said, and it’s a monumental moment for the program to have its first cohort of students earn their commercial certification.
Xander Patterson, an MHS junior, enrolled in the class because he plans to work in forestry, an industry that uses drones to survey land, monitor the health of trees and detect forest fires with thermal imaging.
Along with foundational flying skills, Patterson said he’s learned about regulations and how to build a drone, which has helped him learn to repair them too.
Samira Gates, a Shannon High School
junior, knew that drone piloting is a growing industry and joined the class out of curiosity.
She hasn’t yet decided what career path she’ll pursue but has considered starting her own drone photography business.
With a commercial drone pilot license in hand, it’s a real possibility — one that she wouldn’t have otherwise considered had the class not been offered at LCCTC.
The Mississippi Construction Education Foundation (MCEF) held a Career Signing Day for eligible Mississippi students as part of the 2023 SkillsUSA Mississippi State Championship in Jackson in March. The students signed letters of intent with different organi-
zations to pursue careers in the construction and manufacturing industries following graduation.
Mississippi House Representative Jill Ford and AccelerateMS Executive Director Ryan Miller offered words of encouragement to the students.
Amory CTC
Corben Blake
Noah Currie
Alex McDonald
Franklin County CTC
Peyton Herbert
Noah McCormick
Tyrese O’Neal
Greene County
Vocational Center
Brentley Adams
Eli Corey
Michael Mizell
William Trey Roberts
Holmes County CTC
Marquavis Bryant
Benjamin Lewis
Elliot Thomas
Lowndes County CTC
Wyatt Enger
Colton Evans
Tucker Holbrook
Noxubee County CTC
Jacarrio Anderson
Kwentrez Johnson
Treyon Sledge
Pontotoc Ridge CTC
Landon Morgan
Tippah County CTC
Timothy Page
Landyn Rainey
Wayne County CTC
SheMar Leverette
The Meridian Star
Lauderdale County School District (LCSD) leaders hosted a groundbreaking for a new career and technical education center in the fall.
“I’m really excited about the participation we had in our groundbreaking ceremony,” said Rob Smith, the center’s director. “Having all these people here just shows the community support that we have going into this project.
“I hope that with this new center, we can help correct the issue with students who decide not to attend college and help them have the skills to ob-
tain high-wage jobs in our area,” Smith emphasized.
Prior to coming to LCSD, Smith was the longtime director for the Ross Collins Career and Technical Center on the Meridian High School campus. He explained that the new center will not duplicate the programs at Ross Collins, but will be an expansion.
“We’ll potentially have some programs duplicated for those in high demand, but we plan to put in new programs that could be offered to MHS students. And just as the county goes to Ross Collins, now we’ll have an open invitation for Meridian to come to our center as well,” he added.
Superintendent JohnMark Cain said he was grateful for the support from local industry, educational leaders, and state leaders in attendance.
“I believe this demonstrates the fact that this area is hungry for us to provide more workforce and career technical education for our students,” Cain said.
“The goal is to expose our students to more. Not everyone is interested in being a student at the post-secondary level, so let’s introduce them to more careers. Hopefully, we can help create an additional workforce right here in Lauderdale County.”
Oxford High School (OHS) student Peter Griffis went above and beyond the required credits for his Work-Based Learning (WBL) course, logging over 1,000 hours.
The standard hour requirements for course credit are 70 hours of work for a half credit, 140 hours for one full credit, and 280 hours required for two credits.
Griffis achieved the majority of his hours working on the culinary team at the Country Club of Oxford. After starting in the “dish pit,” he made his way down the line to his current roles in banquet prep and as a grill cook.
His supervisor, club Executive Chef Jonathan Oliver, hailed Griffis’ work ethic and considers him a valuable team member.
“He has really shown a love for food and preparing beautiful food for the membership,” Oliver explained. “He will shine bright in his next stage; everyone will love him.”
The WBL course, offered through the OHS Career Technical Education (CTE) program, allows students to obtain experience in coursework connected to a specific career and supports students in developing the soft skills needed for future success.
Students connect the coursework with authentic work experiences, providing training grounds for students to practice and improve on nontechnical skills such as dependability and teamwork.
Jeff Jones, Griffis’ teacher and the Oxford Public School District’s WBL coordinator, also sang his student’s praises.
“I’m so proud of him for reaching this milestone,” Jones exclaimed. “Peter is a great example of the willingness of our students to become active, successful citizens in our community. He has embraced the challenge of being both a student and an
Five Mississippi students were selected career and technical education (CTE) candidates as part of the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established by Executive Order of the President to recognize the nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors. In 2015, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in CTE.
Selected student include Ashlyn Brown (New Albany), Kymrie Loftin
(Hattiesburg), Aubrey Parrish (Water Valley), Aisha Williams (Vicksburg) and Matthew Williams (Gulfport).
Brown completed the Drafting program at New Albany’s School of Career and Technical Education and earned her AutoDesk AutoCAD certified user national certification. Brown is currently enrolled in the center’s work-based learning program.
Loftin completed the Health Science program at Hattiesburg High School (HHS). She serves as the president of her
school’s HOSA and National Technical Honor Society chapters. Loftin received academic honors from the College Board National African American Recognition Program, a spot in the HHS ACT 25+ Club and Platinum level on the ACT WorkKeys. While in Health Science II, Loftin earned the National Consortium Health Science Education national certification.
Aisha Williams was named to Vicksburg High School’s National Technical Honor Society chapter, the student ambassadors team and the Key Club. She holds a 4.00 GPA and ranks in the top 15% of her graduating class.
Fifteen high school seniors enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs statewide received $1,000 scholarships at an annual celebration sponsored by the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation (MCEF) on May 5.
The scholarship program, funded by MCEF and the Mississippi State Board of Contractors, rewards top-performing CTE students who plan to enroll in construction- or manufacturing-related degree programs after graduating
Scholarship winners were:
• Malaki Bryant, Hernando High School
from high school. Recipients also must meet academic requirements and be recommended by their instructors and CTE center directors.
“If Mississippi is going to have the skilled workforce that’s needed for tomorrow, we must encourage and train those workers today,” said Brent Bean, MCEF president. “This scholarship program rewards students who are readying for career and technical positions, which also supports Mississippi’s growing construction and
• Jordan Coon, Tupelo Career Technical Center
• Eli Corey, Greene County Vocational Technical Center
• Nathaniel Edwards, Gulfport High School
• Donald Flowers Jr., Hazlehurst High School
• Brian Gaughf, Park Place Christian Academy
• Trey Hardy, Ross Collins Career Technical Center
manufacturing industries.”
MCEF is a nonprofit educational foundation that provides NCCER craft training and credentialing in more than 100 career and technical programs across the state. The foundation’s mission is to train individuals for construction and manufacturing industries in Mississippi. MCEF also offers workforce training and credentialing in construction, industrial maintenance and manufacturing trades. Learn more about MCEF at mcef.net.
• Landon Hudson, Alcorn County Career Technical Center
• Tyson Marlow, Southeast Lauderdale High School
• Noah McCormick, Franklin County Career Technical Center
• John Hesten Powers, Pillow Academy
• Alexis Smith, Wayne County Career Technical Center
• McKenzie Stanley, Germantown High School
• Emmanual Wilson, Ross Collins Career Technical Center
• Tanner Wimberly, Cathedral Unit School
