Education

Education in Brookhaven and Lincoln County

BROOKHAVEN ACADEMY

Brookhaven Academy is an independent school that helps develop students into mature young adults who are prepared to succeed intellectually, physically and spiritually. “Our mission at Brookhaven Academy is to provide a Christian-based, college preparatory curriculum in which each student is challenged to achieve excellence,” said Brian Emory, BA’s director of development. The school, which is not affiliated with any particular denomination of Christianity, offers education from K-3 through 12th grade. The elementary school uses curriculum that covers writing, reading, math, language, science, social science and the Bible.

BROOKHAVEN SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Brookhaven School District offers a wide range of programs, including a thriving Mississippi Scholars program and a Rising Scholars program. Superintendent Roderick Henderson hopes to help Brookhaven improve its accountability ratings. His goals include ensuring all teachers are working to grow students and that all students are growing. Henderson believes a key to BSD’s success is motivating and developing students through a variety of extracurricular and academic programs.

LINCOLN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Lincoln County School District focuses on the communities surrounding the schools to help students thrive. The district is comprised of Bogue Chitto Attendance Center, Enterprise Attendance Center, Loyd Star Attendance Center and West Lincoln Attendance Center, each operating as its own K-12 school. David Martin took on the head position at the Lincoln County School District in 2020. “With vision and commitment, we can make our school system even stronger, providing greater opportunities for our students and, in the process, serving as a catalyst in attracting business and industry to this region of Mississippi,” he said.

Alexander Junior High School

School District: Brookhaven Grades: 7th – 8th Principal: Patrick Hardy Asst. Principal: Misty Wall Address: 713 Beauregard St. Telephone: 601-833-7549

Bogue Chitto Attendance Center

School District: Lincoln County Grades: K - 12th

Principal: Scott Merrell

Asst. Principal: Gareth Sartin Address: 385 West Monticello St., Bogue Chitto Telephone: 601-734-2723

Brookhaven Academy

Grades: K–12th Enrollment: 427

Head of School/High School Principal: Jason Case

Elementary Principal: Page Nelson

Address: 943 Brookway Blvd. Ext. Telephone: 601-833-4041

Brookhaven Elementary School

School District: Brookhaven Grades: 3rd – 4th Principal: LaTronda Gayten Assistant Principal: Chad Leggett Address: 300 Church St. Telephone: 601-833-3139

Enterprise Attendance Center

School District: Lincoln County Grades: K – 12th Principal: Terry Brister

Asst. Principal: Charissa Burke Address: 1601 Hwy. 583 Telephone: 601-833-7284

Brookhaven High School

School District: Brookhaven Grades: 9th - 12th

Principal: Stacy Walker

Asst. Principals: Jeremy Peagler Shonique McLarin Address: 443 East Monticello St. Telephone: 601-833-4498

Fannie Mullins School

School District: Brookhaven Director: Steven Keys Administrative Asst.: Aramis Merchant Address: 711 Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Drive Telephone: 601-833-7472

Brookhaven Technical Center

School District: Brookhaven Grades: 10th - 12th Director: Trevor Brister Address: 325 East Court St. Telephone: 601-833-8335

Lipsey School

School District: Brookhaven Grades: 5th – 6th Principal: Rita Robinson Asst. Principal: Eric Stokes Address: 412 Drury Lane Telephone: 601-833-6148

Loyd Star Attendance Center

School District: Lincoln County Grades: K–12th Principal: Dena Ford Assistant Principal: Seth Lofton

Address: 1880 Hwy. 550 High School Telephone: 601-833-3473 Elementary Telephone: 601-833-9923

Mamie Martin Elementary School

School District: Brookhaven Grades: K–2nd

Principal: Nancy Fisher

Asst. Principals: Marcus Flippin and Ashley Davis

Address: 420 Vivian Merritt St. Telephone: 601-833-7359

Mississippi School of the Arts

Grades: 11th–12th Enrollment: 140 Executive Director: Suzanne Hirsch

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 229, Brookhaven, MS 39602-0229 Physical Address: 308 West Cherokee St. Telephone: 601-823-1300

West Lincoln Attendance Center

School District: Lincoln County Grades: K–12th Principal: John Shows

Asst. Principal: Jason Frazier Address: 948 Jackson-Liberty Drive Telephone: 601-833-4600

Copiah-Lincoln Community College

continues expansion of facilities, programs

Despite the many challenges COVID-19 presented, Copiah-Lincoln Community College continued to provide the high-quality education for which it is known. Students returned to campus in the fall with a “Protect Our Pack” plan in place. Although some campus events had to be canceled, events like Homecoming, the annual Trillium pageant, and Spring Fling carried on with added precautions. The college continued with facility upgrades, construction projects and campus beautification projects.

“Co-Lin’s dedicated faculty and staff and outstanding student body made the most of what was a very challenging year,” said Co-Lin President Dr. Jane Hulon Sims. “We worked to overcome, adapt, and thrive as the Co-Lin family.”

For starters, the Cosmetology program on the Wesson Campus unveiled a complete renovation in the fall, with brand new workstations, lighting, paint and furniture. Appointments are open to the public for those who are eager to see the newly renovated space. Outdoor picnic tables were a welcomed addition to all three campuses, and students took full advantage of the outdoor dining opportunities.

At H. L. Stone Stadium, the new digital scoreboard made its debut during the fall semester at Wolf Pack football games and provided the perfect venue to host student movie nights in a socially distanced fashion. With the abbreviated football season as it was, the Blue Wave Show Band only had the chance to show off its stellar new uniforms at one home game. Look for the 2021 season to be the true reveal of the new gear.

The Wolves and Lady Wolves Tennis teams played their first seasons on the new eight-court tennis complex (located where the soccer fields were previously). The facility also offers additional parking for both tennis and softball.

After a three-year hiatus, Co-Lin soccer was reinstated as a varsity sport for both men and women. The teams play on the turf field at H. L. Stone Stadium.

The Natchez Campus completed the new Diesel Lab expansion which added 4,500

Dr. Jane Hulon-Sims

square feet of hands-on training space for students. Another milestone worth celebrating is the graduation of the first class of students in the Paramedic program on the Natchez Campus.

The Simpson County Center celebrated its 15th anniversary in September 2020. It also welcomed the first group of students to the new $6 million Career-Technical Building during the fall semester.

In addition, the new President’s Home is completed and occupied.

The college was once again recognized as a ‘Great College to Work For’ and received recognition from the Southern Association of Colleges with Associate Degrees for Co-Lin’s COVID-19 plan and implementation. In addition, the Associate Degree Nursing program was ranked as one of Mississippi’s Top Five nursing programs.

Co-Lin continues to expand instructional programs and training opportunities, such as the addition of the new Electrical Lineman training program which saw its first group of 14 graduates in the Spring of 2021. An agreement was signed with the University of West Alabama to provide increased benefits to Co-Lin students that transfer to UWA after Co-Lin. Thanks to the generous support of Georgia-Pacific in Monticello, an engineering lab was established on the Wesson Campus.

As you visit Co-Lin this summer, you’ll find our campuses busy in preparation for the Fall 2021 semester. We’re painting several career-technical labs, adding new windows and doors at Franklin and Simpson residence halls, making upgrades at Wolf Hollow Golf Course, updating campus signage and more. As always, keep up with all things Co-Lin on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and at www.colin.edu.

Southwest CC lays foundation for success

Just about 20 minutes down I-55 from Brookhaven lies the 150-acre campus of Southwest Mississippi Community College.

With a population of approximately 2,000 students, Southwest provides post-secondary education in a variety of vocational and academic programs. The programs allow for students to become successful in many ways.

The college’s biggest vocational programs are the nursing program and the process operations technology program.

Southwest also started an Honors Institute to help those who have excelled academically in the past. Students can qualify if they have scored at least a 23 on the ACT, joined Phi Theta Kappa or have received a recommendation from a Southwest instructor.

Southwest also opened the Student Success Center in 2012, which offers tutoring in areas that students may be deficient in. Peer tutoring and professional tutoring are both offered.

The connection the college has with the community is strong. Summit and McComb are both receptive and supportive of the community.

Southwest helps with economic development by providing a solid foundation for the first two years of college credit and providing coursework for a wide range of vocational programs.