Career Coaches Boost CTE Enrollment at Northwest Community College
Career and technical education sees 40% growth in past four years
For nearly 25 years, Dwayne Casey has focused on helping students at Northwest Community College understand how career and technical educational programs can lead to high-paying jobs in many different fields. Lately, his pro-CTE message has been reaching more college-bound high school students with the help of Mississippi’s newest career coaches.
“Career coaches have made a big difference in our CTE enrollment at Northwest,” said Casey, associate vice president for Workforce Solutions and Career and Technical Education. “We cover an 11-county district—the largest in the state—and we depend on career coaches to help us reach more students and raise awareness about our CTE programs.”
As the state’s lead workforce development agency, AccelerateMS supports strategies to connect Mississippians with transformative, high-paying careers in a variety of industries including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and information technology. Since last year, AccelerateMS has worked with local partners to deploy nearly 200 career coaches into high schools across Mississippi. South Delta Planning and Development District as well as Three Rivers Planning and Development District manage career coaches serving Northwest Mississippi Community College.
Career coaches work individually with high school students to help them find a career path that matches their goals and interests. They also encourage local businesses to provide internships, job-shadowing experience, part-time jobs, and other opportunities for students to gain professional competencies and expertise.
With coaches’ assistance, many high school students are well on their way to rewarding careers—whether it’s entering the workforce after graduation, continuing their education at a two- or four-year college, or a combination.
“We have nearly 30 pathways available for students, most with multiple exit points,” Casey said. “Students can decide how far they want to go in a program, from earning a career certificate or technical certificate to receiving a degree. A lot of our programs have a 100% placement rate, and we have many employers who are lining up waiting for students to graduate.”
For students who don’t think college is an option, career coaches raise awareness about financial aid programs such as Pell Grants, ACT scholarships, and corporate reimbursement programs that can make post-secondary education more affordable.
“We have an agricultural technology program in partnership with John Deere, and sponsoring dealerships often pay for students’ tuition,” Casey said.
From fields such as precision manufacturing and machining technology to graphic design, Northwest offers a wide variety of career programs and has added more in recent years, including programs for utility line workers, diesel technology, professional truck driving, and cyber security technology.
Casey noted that grants from AccelerateMS have helped Northwest launch new programs and expand existing programs to better serve students and strengthen workforce development in Mississippi.
“We have 1,000 CTE students enrolled now at Northwest, which is nearly a 40% increase since 2019,” Casey said. “I get a great deal of satisfaction helping people get started in their careers. It’s been exciting to see the growth in CTE and the difference we’re making in students’ lives and futures.”
AccelerateMS serves the people and businesses of Mississippi by developing and deploying workforce strategies to connect individuals with transformative, high-paying careers. By leveraging resources and partnering with organizations that hold complementary missions, AccelerateMS effectuates positive change, creating sustained individual, community and statewide economic prosperity.
Learn more at www.coaches.acceleratems.org/.
