CTE Application NOW Open!
DeSoto County Schools Career & Technology Centers are excited to announce that the application for the 2026–2027 school year is now open! Students interested in exploring career pathways, gaining hands-on experience, and preparing for postsecondary opportunities are encouraged to apply.
Our Career Tech programs offer industry-aligned instruction, certifications, and real-world learning experiences designed to support students as they prepare for college, careers, and beyond.
The application will remain open through Friday, February 6. All interested students should submit their application before the deadline to be considered for program placement.
Congratulations to our seniors who completed the NWCC Workforce Development Manufacturing Skills Program. This partnership continues to strengthen our talent pipeline and equip students with real-world skills for the regional workforce. #CareerReady
Engaging with industry professionals is a critical component of preparing students for long-term career success. Thank you to Rickie for bringing firsthand insight that supports our district’s workforce readiness goals.
#WorkforceDevelopment #CareerReady
#WorkforceDevelopment #CareerReady
We’re proud to highlight graduates who leveraged high-school opportunities and industry connections to launch meaningful career pathways. Meet this week’s featured alum below.
DeSoto County Schools announces Dual-Credit Partnership with Mississippi University for Women
#TeamDCS #BeTheStandard
#TeamDCS #BeTheStandard
As we continue driving strategic alignment across our schools, we want to spotlight the value of the one-on-one meetings our Three Rivers Career Coaches hold with students. These touchpoints may not carry the fanfare of large-scale events, but they deliver high-impact outcomes that move the needle on career readiness in a very real way.
Individual conversations allow our coaches to drill down into each student’s interests, goals, and emerging strengths. That level of personalized guidance equips students to chart a clearer path forward and ensures our workforce initiatives remain tightly aligned with actual student needs.
Not every meaningful experience happens in a crowded room. Sometimes, the most consequential development occurs across a small table—one student, one coach, and a focused dialogue that helps shape the trajectory of a young person’s future.
Individual conversations allow our coaches to drill down into each student’s interests, goals, and emerging strengths. That level of personalized guidance equips students to chart a clearer path forward and ensures our workforce initiatives remain tightly aligned with actual student needs.
Not every meaningful experience happens in a crowded room. Sometimes, the most consequential development occurs across a small table—one student, one coach, and a focused dialogue that helps shape the trajectory of a young person’s future.
Bringing industry expertise into our classrooms is key to preparing students for success beyond graduation. Guest speakers offer insight into real-world career paths, inspiring students to think about their future opportunities. See the flyer for a guest speaker highlight.
When students hear directly from professionals in the field, it bridges the gap between education and employment. We appreciate our WBL teachers for coordinating these impactful guest speaker sessions that spark career interest and broaden horizons.
Work-Based Learning wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated teachers and industry partners who mentor students each day. Meet this week’s featured student who’s thriving thanks to hands-on experience and community support!
Career Coach Connection – Weekly Spotlight
Each week, we highlight a unique opportunity for our students to connect classroom learning with real-world career pathways. Our Career Coaches work directly with local industries, community partners, and educators to create hands-on experiences that prepare students for success beyond graduation.
Check out this week’s connection in the flyer below!
Each week, we highlight a unique opportunity for our students to connect classroom learning with real-world career pathways. Our Career Coaches work directly with local industries, community partners, and educators to create hands-on experiences that prepare students for success beyond graduation.
Check out this week’s connection in the flyer below!
Horn Lake High School raised the bar this week with a high-impact Trades Day designed to give our College & Career Readiness and JROTC students a firsthand look at high-demand skilled pathways. This event delivered practical, real-world learning aligned to the district’s workforce readiness agenda and showcased strong industry partnerships that continue to move the needle for our students.
Students engaged in hands-on rotations with a broad slate of regional employers:
*Mid-South Independent Electrical Contractors demonstrated core electrical principles and let students test how electricity flows.
*Canadian National Railroad walked students through measuring a wheel flange and changing a brake shoe—critical rail operations competencies.
*Tri-State Utility Contractors provided locating equipment used in underground directional drilling, giving students a window into modern utility fieldwork.
*Mississippi Rural Water Association facilitated a water-filtration activity using cotton balls, sand, and rocks, reinforcing foundational environmental systems concepts.
*Southeastern Carpenters Local 1554 brought a welding simulator, allowing students to experience a controlled introduction to welding.
*United Association of Plumbers Local 17 highlighted core plumbing skills and industry expectations.
*Hyosung HICO demonstrated how high-capacity electrical transformers support the power needs of supercomputing.
This initiative was strategically coordinated by Career Coaches Robin Henessee and Pat Brady, whose leadership ensured seamless execution and high-value engagement for students.
DeSoto County Schools remains committed to expanding career-aligned experiences that prepare students for both college and the modern workforce.
Students engaged in hands-on rotations with a broad slate of regional employers:
*Mid-South Independent Electrical Contractors demonstrated core electrical principles and let students test how electricity flows.
*Canadian National Railroad walked students through measuring a wheel flange and changing a brake shoe—critical rail operations competencies.
*Tri-State Utility Contractors provided locating equipment used in underground directional drilling, giving students a window into modern utility fieldwork.
*Mississippi Rural Water Association facilitated a water-filtration activity using cotton balls, sand, and rocks, reinforcing foundational environmental systems concepts.
*Southeastern Carpenters Local 1554 brought a welding simulator, allowing students to experience a controlled introduction to welding.
*United Association of Plumbers Local 17 highlighted core plumbing skills and industry expectations.
*Hyosung HICO demonstrated how high-capacity electrical transformers support the power needs of supercomputing.
This initiative was strategically coordinated by Career Coaches Robin Henessee and Pat Brady, whose leadership ensured seamless execution and high-value engagement for students.
DeSoto County Schools remains committed to expanding career-aligned experiences that prepare students for both college and the modern workforce.
DeSoto County Schools had a strong seat at the table today during the Atlas Roundtable discussion at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Our Workforce Development team, Career Coaches, and Work-Based Learning Coordinators were fully engaged in strategic dialogue focused on talent alignment, regional workforce readiness, and sustainable pipeline development.
We were also joined by the DeSoto Economic Council, reinforcing a unified, countywide commitment to advancing workforce strategies that drive economic vitality and long-term talent sustainability. Their presence further strengthened the collaborative framework needed to keep our region competitive.
This type of cross-sector convening underscores our district’s focus on operational excellence and long-range workforce planning. By leveraging best practices and deepening partnerships with higher education, industry, and local economic leadership, we continue to position our students for high-value career pathways and real-world skill acquisition.
Proud to see DeSoto County Schools represented and contributing to the conversations shaping the future of workforce development in our region.
We were also joined by the DeSoto Economic Council, reinforcing a unified, countywide commitment to advancing workforce strategies that drive economic vitality and long-term talent sustainability. Their presence further strengthened the collaborative framework needed to keep our region competitive.
This type of cross-sector convening underscores our district’s focus on operational excellence and long-range workforce planning. By leveraging best practices and deepening partnerships with higher education, industry, and local economic leadership, we continue to position our students for high-value career pathways and real-world skill acquisition.
Proud to see DeSoto County Schools represented and contributing to the conversations shaping the future of workforce development in our region.
DeSoto County Schools is excited to announce that Jessica Burgess, Work-Based Learning Coordinator at Center Hill High School, has been selected to participate in the Leadership DeSoto Class of 2026.
Leadership DeSoto is a flagship community leadership program designed to strengthen civic engagement, deepen participants’ understanding of countywide operations, and build cross-sector networks that drive long-term community impact. The program has a long-standing track record of shaping professionals who contribute meaningfully to workforce, economic, and community development.
Mrs. Burgess' selection represents a strategic advantage for our district. As a Work-Based Learning Coordinator, her role hinges on cultivating strong relationships with local employers, industry partners, and civic leaders. Embedding her in a cohort of emerging community leaders positions her to expand those partnerships, elevate our district’s workforce initiatives, and create additional high-value opportunities for students across DeSoto County.
This is a high-caliber professional development experience, and Jessica’s participation underscores our ongoing commitment to operational excellence, community alignment, and building sustainable talent pipelines for our students.
We are proud of Jessica for earning this opportunity and look forward to the impact her leadership will continue to make on behalf of our district.
Leadership DeSoto is a flagship community leadership program designed to strengthen civic engagement, deepen participants’ understanding of countywide operations, and build cross-sector networks that drive long-term community impact. The program has a long-standing track record of shaping professionals who contribute meaningfully to workforce, economic, and community development.
Mrs. Burgess' selection represents a strategic advantage for our district. As a Work-Based Learning Coordinator, her role hinges on cultivating strong relationships with local employers, industry partners, and civic leaders. Embedding her in a cohort of emerging community leaders positions her to expand those partnerships, elevate our district’s workforce initiatives, and create additional high-value opportunities for students across DeSoto County.
This is a high-caliber professional development experience, and Jessica’s participation underscores our ongoing commitment to operational excellence, community alignment, and building sustainable talent pipelines for our students.
We are proud of Jessica for earning this opportunity and look forward to the impact her leadership will continue to make on behalf of our district.
Lewisburg Middle School is taking a strategic step forward in early career readiness. This week, sixth graders met with their counselors to complete a career exploration survey using Naviance through PowerSchool—a college- and career-readiness platform that helps students identify their interests, explore potential pathways, and align their strengths with future opportunities. It serves as a centralized hub for interest inventories, goal-setting, and long-term academic planning, giving students a structured starting point as they chart their course.
We’re also featuring a student spotlight from LMS sixth grader Asher Turner, who shares how this experience helped him begin thinking about his future.
DeSoto County Schools continues to advance high-impact initiatives that build a strong workforce pipeline by equipping students with meaningful tools and experiences from the very beginning of their journey.
Today we’re amplifying student voices across DeSoto County Schools as they reflect on the value of real-world exposure through job shadowing. These experiences create a direct line of sight from the classroom to the workplace, allowing students to benchmark expectations, observe industry standards, and gain clarity on future pathways.
A student testimonial is featured on the accompanying flyer.
A student testimonial is featured on the accompanying flyer.
Our Career Coaches work hard each week to connect students with meaningful career experiences and industry leaders. These partnerships provide our students with the knowledge, skills, and exposure they need to succeed in the workforce and in life. See this week’s connection in the flyer below!
Building the Bridge from School to Career
Our Career Coaches work hard each week to connect students with meaningful career experiences and industry leaders. These partnerships provide our students with the knowledge, skills, and exposure they need to succeed in the workforce and in life. See this week’s connection in the flyer below!
Our Career Coaches work hard each week to connect students with meaningful career experiences and industry leaders. These partnerships provide our students with the knowledge, skills, and exposure they need to succeed in the workforce and in life. See this week’s connection in the flyer below!
Each week, we’re proud to showcase one of our students who’s building their future through Work-Based Learning. See how this student is gaining valuable experience and exploring career goals!
Center Hill High School Students Gain Real-World Experience Through Mock Interviews
Today, Center Hill High School hosted a series of mock interviews designed to prepare students for future success in the workforce. This hands-on event was coordinated by Three Rivers Career Coach Nikki Hill and Work-Based Learning Coordinator Jessica Burgess. The event provided participating students with the opportunity to experience a professional interview setting and receive constructive feedback from local business and industry partners.
Mock interviews are an essential part of career readiness. They allow students to practice communication skills, refine their resumes, and learn how to present themselves with confidence. These skills are critical for success whether entering the workforce, pursuing higher education, or competing for scholarships.
This event was made possible through the strong partnerships DeSoto County Schools maintains with community employers who volunteered their time to meet with students, share professional insight, and help shape tomorrow’s workforce.
DeSoto County Schools extends sincere appreciation to all participating business and industry partners for their continued investment in our students and their futures. These collaborations ensure that our graduates are not only prepared but competitive as they take the next step toward their career goals.
Today, Center Hill High School hosted a series of mock interviews designed to prepare students for future success in the workforce. This hands-on event was coordinated by Three Rivers Career Coach Nikki Hill and Work-Based Learning Coordinator Jessica Burgess. The event provided participating students with the opportunity to experience a professional interview setting and receive constructive feedback from local business and industry partners.
Mock interviews are an essential part of career readiness. They allow students to practice communication skills, refine their resumes, and learn how to present themselves with confidence. These skills are critical for success whether entering the workforce, pursuing higher education, or competing for scholarships.
This event was made possible through the strong partnerships DeSoto County Schools maintains with community employers who volunteered their time to meet with students, share professional insight, and help shape tomorrow’s workforce.
DeSoto County Schools extends sincere appreciation to all participating business and industry partners for their continued investment in our students and their futures. These collaborations ensure that our graduates are not only prepared but competitive as they take the next step toward their career goals.
Our Career & Technical Education programs are where learning meets doing. Each week, we’ll highlight one program that is opening doors for students through hands-on training and industry connections. See this week’s CTE spotlight in the flyer below, and discover how our students are preparing for the future.
