SMPDD Career Coaches

06/08/2026

——KEEP MISSISSIPPI MOVING FORWARD—-

06/03/2026

Career pathways link education and training to real-world opportunity—helping individuals move from learning to employment with purpose.

05/27/2026

~STEM Industry Visit~

Gulfport High School students toured GulfShip shipyard in Gulfport, MS, recently, as part of a STEM Industry visit.

Gulf Ship opened in 2006 and has established itself as a world-class shipbuilder specializing in building offshore vessels that support private industry and government. The shipyard has been recognized by Harrison County and the state of Mississippi for its positive economic impact on the region following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In late 2014, Edison Chouest purchased the old future pipe industries site located across from the shipyard, more than doubling the footprint of Gulf Ship.

27 students learned about ship building, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations, and maritime law. 3 students were offered career opportunities.

05/19/2026

SMPDD Career Coaches and Career Coach Managers were excited to be a part of the 2026 Catalyst Workshop on the beautiful campus of Mississippi State University. Over 200 coaches from across the entire state of MS were in attendance. The event was hosted by AccelerateMs, in partnership with the Research & Curriculum Unit at Mississippi State University, through GEAR UP. It was a time of learning, collaboration, and planning as the coaches heard from professionals in multiple fields.

A special thanks to Bill Cork, Zac Selmon, Dr. Rebecca Brown, Taylor Simmons, Brett Robinson, Macaulay Whitaker, Morgan Fisher, and the whole ACT Team. It was a great time to highlight the work of the career coaches and look ahead to the future and the continued impact they will have on the individuals and communities they serve.

05/16/2026

🎓🎓🎓🎉🎉

Congratulations to the Kemper County HS Class of 2026. I am so proud of each one of you and cannot wait to see all the incredible things you will accomplish. Never stop believing in yourselves and the potential you have to make a difference in this world. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your journey — it is something I will always cherish.

With love ~~
your career coach,
Mrs. Roberts

05/14/2026

🎉🎉🎉Please join us in celebrating Career Coach Keyshon Hinton for her outstanding accomplishments and dedication to student success. Keyshon was honored with the prestigious 2026 Career Coach Catalyst Award presented by AccelerateMS, recognizing her commitment to helping students explore meaningful career pathways and future opportunities.

In addition to this incredible achievement, she was also awarded a $1,000 check from Skills That Pay Foundation as a “Pathways and Trades Hero.” This recognition highlights her passion for promoting workforce development, skilled trades, and career readiness among students.

Through her leadership, encouragement, and dedication, Keyshon continues to make a lasting impact by guiding students toward successful futures in college, career, military, and technical pathways. Her efforts inspire students to dream bigger, work harder, and confidently pursue opportunities that lead to long-term success. Congratulations to Keyshon Hinton on these well-deserved honors and for being a true champion for students and career education.

05/14/2026

“Lead with purpose, make a meaningful impact, and live a life that echoes.”
Zac Selmon

Athletic Director at Mississippi State, Zac Selmon, addressed a room full of 200+ career coaches from across the state during the 2026 Catalyst Leveling Up Career Coaches Conference. Mr. Selmon expressed his appreciation for the work coaches are doing and thanked them for making a difference in the lives of high school students.

05/13/2026

🔦JOB SHADOW SPOTLIGHT🔦

Career Pathway: Aircraft Mechanics

🔦 Job Shadow Spotlight 🔦 Braden Massey recently had the chance to observe the reinstallation of an exhaust manifold & a crankshaft oil seal. ✈️

Goal for this shadowing opportunity—
[Align, Train, Connect & Advance}

Braden was hosted at the Meridian Aviation Maintenance Facility and Dean Aircraft—where he gained insight into launching a career in airport maintenance, encompassing small airport refueling planes, military routes, assisting a mechanic, and the college route.

Special thank you to———
Mr. AJ Simmons, Mr. Eugene Blanks for their time spent with this student! 🌟

05/12/2026

🌟🌟LIVE NOW🌟🌟

The Catalyst 2026: Leveling Up Career Coaches Conference is a two-day professional development event designed to equip and inspire career coaches across Mississippi. Hosted through partnerships with AccelerateMS, GEAR UP Mississippi, and Mississippi State University, the conference focuses on strengthening workforce innovation, career readiness, and student success initiatives. Attendees will engage in updates from workforce and education leaders, partner panels, breakout sessions, ACT WorkKeys training, and collaborative discussions centered on advancing career pathways for students. The conference also provides opportunities for networking, leadership development, and sharing strategies that help career coaches better prepare students for college, workforce, military, and career opportunities.