Grenada Career Coach Brings Holistic Approach to Workforce Development

Reed helps high school students explore multiple pathways to post-graduation success

Almost 30 years ago, LaTifany Reed was coaching cheerleading and girls’ basketball at a local recreation center. Driven to mentor youth since then, Reed is building on her legacy at Grenada High School as a career coach with AccelerateMS.

As the state’s lead workforce development agency, AccelerateMS supports strategies to connect Mississippians with transformative, high-paying careers. Reed is one of more than 100 coaches deployed last fall to school districts around the state to help high school students find successful paths into the workforce after graduation. 

Rather than the “all-or-nothing” college preparation system of the past, career coaches help students navigate a variety of post-graduation options and prepare for in-demand jobs that align with their interests and aptitudes.

“My focus is on students who aren’t sure what they want to do when they graduate and who may not be doing well academically,” Reed said. “Being able to steer them in the right direction and see the spark in their eye when they realize they have a future after high school has been so fulfilling.” 

A Grenada High School alumna, Reed understands how life situations and challenges can affect a student’s progress in school. She has found that students trust her because she approaches them with a listening ear, a compassionate heart and a variety of helpful resources provided through the career coaching program.

An important first step for Reed is engaging individually with students to learn their goals and interests. She cited a recent conversation with a student who seemed uninterested in career and technical education but said he loved gaming.

“My student said that he felt like one day he could make his own video game,” Reed said. “His face lit up when I told him about a coding academy located just 40 miles away. We nominated him for acceptance into the academy, and the Grenada Chamber of Commerce offered to pay for gas or help secure transportation, so that barriers to travel would not be a hindrance.”

Reed’s responsibilities also include working with students on WorkKeys Assessments, promoting career pathways offered by the Grenada Career and Technical Center, giving presentations to students in all high-school grades, and getting involved in school and community events. She treats every interaction as an opportunity to talk about career coaching.

Community outreach also is a key focus area. Reed works with local businesses to identify paid internship opportunities for students and stays up to date on workforce needs in the Grenada area. 

“I have one student who is [about to become] a first-generation high school graduate,” Reed said. “She’s a phenomenal young lady who is an honor student and an entrepreneur. She does nails to help her mother with the household bills and senior expenses. I helped her get an internship at a law firm because that’s what she wants to study. Making these connections that impact these kids in such positive ways is what keeps me going.”

In addition, Reed took the initiative to analyze statistical data to help the school district encourage students to apply for assistance from the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid. Her analysis revealed that the number of students who qualified for reduced lunch was disproportionate to those who submitted applications.

“That meant that we had way more students who were likely eligible [for financial aid], but they were missing the March 31 deadline to apply,” Reed said. “When students realize they can get financial help to pursue their goals after high school, that can be a game changer.”

Reed also helps students complete financial aid paperwork.Thanks to her efforts, a record number of Grenada High School seniors have received one-on-one guidance in submitting applications this year, and she’s now working with juniors on the application process so they’ll be better prepared when they approach graduation.

Career coaches like Reed are working throughout the state to help students make choices that lead to stable, high-paying careers in Mississippi’s workforce. AccelerateMS sees this as a vital investment in Mississippi’s future—and Reed agrees.

“If you’re considering being a career coach with AccelerateMS, it will be the most worthwhile experience you’ll ever have,” Reed said. “You can really make a difference in young peoples’ lives by setting them on a positive course for the future.”

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.