Roberts Helps Kemper County Grads Embrace the Future with Confidence

Career coach works with high school students to discover pathways to success

When she was in high school, Misty Roberts says she would have benefited from some extra support in finding a clear direction for the future. That may be why she found her calling as an AccelerateMS career coach for students in the Kemper County School District.

“The job description sounded like the perfect fit for me,” said Roberts, who is one of more than 100 AccelerateMS career coaches who are helping high school students find successful paths into the workforce. “It’s something I needed in high school, so I could relate to what it’s like being a young adult who’s unsure of what direction to go in. My goal is to help students feel confident in their decisions about the future.” 

AccelerateMS supports strategies to connect Mississippians with transformative, high-paying careers. In December 2022, Roberts began working with students in the Kemper County School District including the John C. Stennis Career and Technical Education Center, where programs are offered in forestry, law and public safety, health sciences, educator prep, construction, welding and work-based learning.

Students have a higher rate of success in high school and after graduation when they find a career that aligns with their goals and interests. By reviewing the results of students’ career-interest surveys, Roberts gained a better understanding of their professional interests and helped them determine the steps involved in turning their vision into reality.

To raise awareness about the growing demand for skilled workers, Roberts connected students with local and area employers through job fairs, field trips, guest speakers and other activities.

“This is a great community to work in because a lot of businesses are willing to get involved,” Roberts said. “Representatives from local businesses and colleges participated in our career fair, including some from Meridian and Philadelphia, since a portion of their workforce comes from Kemper County. In the future, we want to offer job-shadowing opportunities to give students more exposure to the types of careers available in this area.”

Since most seniors planned to continue their education after high school, Roberts made sure they completed financial aid and scholarship applications to help them pay for college.

“It’s important to be transparent and make them aware of all of the costs associated with college,” she said. “I helped them do annual cost projections to determine how much money they’ll need to pay for school. They also learned about resources that are available to help them earn a degree and achieve their academic and career goals.”

Before becoming a career coach, Roberts was a licensed social worker for seven years in the health-care field. A native of Shuqualak in Noxubee County, she graduated from Nanih Waiya Attendance Center in Louisville and received an associate’s degree from East Mississippi Community College. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work from Mississippi State University-Meridian and a master’s from the University of Alabama. 

“I struggled to determine what I wanted to do after high school, but I knew I wanted to help people,” Roberts said. “That’s one reason I’m so thankful to be a career coach. This is an opportunity to be on the front lines of making a big impact on the lives of young people in the community. It’s a benefit for students to have an extra resource—an extra person to help them find the right path into 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.