Career Coaches Help Redefine Success for Today’s High School Graduates

Burrell, Watson guide Vicksburg-Warren County students to rewarding futures

Their official title is career coach, but “myth buster” and “pioneer” also fit the job description for Alexandria Burrell and Monica Watson, two AccelerateMS career coaches who are helping students in the Vicksburg Warren School District bridge the gap between graduation and rewarding futures. 

“There are so many paths that students can take to productive lives,” said Burrell, a career coach at Warren Central High School. “We’re removing the myth that they can only be successful with a four-year degree. We’re showing them real people in the community with real jobs who have done very well on paths away from the traditional route.” 

Watson, a career coach at Vicksburg High School, agreed.

“I have female students who want to go to truck driving school or become welders, which was unheard of when I was in school,” she said. “As the first career coaches, we’re pioneers, helping students find the right careers while building relationships with companies all over Mississippi.”

Deployed statewide by AccelerateMS, career coaches work individually with students to help them identify career goals and map out paths to achieve them. Activities include business and industry field trips, assisting with financial aid and college applications, and connecting students with jobs and internships. 

“No two days are the same,” said Watson. “Right now, I’m focused on helping 177 seniors get to the next level, whether it’s employment, entrepreneurship, enrollment or enlistment. Sometimes I’m a mentor, and sometimes they just need me to listen. They know I’m here for them, and my door is always open.”

Watson and Burrell are Port Gibson natives and Alcorn State University graduates. Watson received a bachelor’s degree in early education and a master’s in workforce leadership and spent 25 years in the Vicksburg Warren School District as a Head Start teacher, computer lab instructor and administrative assistant before becoming a career coach.

Burrell, who has a bachelor’s degree in child development and is working on an MBA, was the first case manager for the Warren County Juvenile Detention Center and Youth Court. She also worked for the Oakley Youth Development Center and as a school attendance officer for the Mississippi Department of Education.

“My previous jobs involved working with young people, mainly at-risk youth,” Burrell said. “As a career coach, I can see the problems for a student who may not do well in a classroom setting. We have a lot of kids who want to work with their hands and be productive, and providing those options may also help with a lot of behavioral issues. Everyone does not learn the same way.”

Their field trip destinations have included Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, the Vicksburg Police Department, Marian Hill Chemical Dependency Center, Hinds Community College’s cosmetology and barber stylist programs, and Mississippi River barge operations.

“A deckhand on a boat can make a minimum of $40,000 a year up to $80,000,” Watson said. “If students learn a trade, they can earn a great living or even start their own business. One student who likes cutting hair learned about the 12-month program at Hinds Community College and that he could be a barber by this time next year. He is ecstatic.”

Building community relationships also has given employers a chance to show students what they have to offer in terms of perks and benefits. Some companies pay for professional development opportunities or tuition if employees want to further their education. 

“After meeting with a real estate agent, one of our students became interested in the profession and interviewed for an internship,” Burrell said. “The agent was impressed and was willing to pay for her realtor class. That opened a door she didn’t know existed before this program.”

Soon, students will have access to a technology that will add an exciting new dimension to career and technical education. Burrell noted that the Vicksburg Warren School District is preparing to incorporate virtual reality equipment and software into its training programs.

“I can’t wait for that,” Burrell said. “With those components in our hands, we’ll be able to take kids virtually through different career paths, and they can use virtual training to learn a specific job. It’s great to see schools investing in career programs and making sure students have a strong foundation to be successful.”

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.