Connections Fall 2023

volume 22 | issue 1 | Fall 2023

2023 MS ACTE

New Teacher of the Year ������������ p. 4

GOING

Whole Hog

for Conservation ���� p. 22

Dear Readers,

volume 22 | issue 1 | Fall 2023

CONTRIBUTORS

Editor-in-Chief........... Brett Robinson Managing Editor........ Pam Stafford Associate Editor.......... Jean Cook Editor............................ Heather Craig

Designer....................... Chris McMillen Writers.......................... Heather Craig Will Graves Nathan King Adrienne Minor

ON THE COVER

Millsaps Career and Technology Center’s (Starkville Oktibbeha School District) Zach Bettinger shows students details of a small, unmanned aircraft in class. Learn more about the awardwinning Bettinger and his Unmanned Aircraft Systems class on p. 4.

Welcome to the Fall 2023 issue of Connections magazine. Here, you will discover career technical education (CTE) successes happening throughout Mississippi. As the editor-in-chief of this publication as well as the Mississippi CTE Director, I am thrilled to share with you these incredible stories and achievements from all around our state.

In this issue, we are pleased to highlight some of the outstanding individuals who have dedicated their careers to advancing Mississippi CTE. Our cover story features Zach Bettinger, the Mississippi Association for Career and Technical Education (MS ACTE) New Teacher of the Year (p. 4). Zach’s innovative approach to teaching Unmanned Aerial Systems at Millsaps Career and Technology Center exemplifies the creative instruction found throughout our state’s CTE programs.

Valerie Barton, the MS ACTE Administrator of the Year, is another shining example of excellence within our education community (p. 14). Her tireless efforts in supporting CTE initiatives have made a significant impact on the lives of countless students and educators.

MS ACTE Counselor of the Year, Pascagoula’s Paulette Edwards, is recognized in this issue for her unwavering commitment to guiding students toward rewarding career paths (p.10). Her dedication to helping students achieve their dreams is an inspiration to us all.

We are also proud to showcase Pass Christian’s Jennifer Frye, the MS ACTE Teacher of the Year, whose passion for teaching and dedication to her students have set a remarkable standard for excellence in our education system (p. 18).

Another highlight of this issue is the story of the George County Horticulture Program, which demonstrated incredible resilience and determination in rebuilding its greenhouses after Hurricane Zeta (p. 28).

Their story is a testament to the unwavering spirit of our CTE community in Mississippi.

Additionally, we are excited to introduce you to the nation’s first-ever FFAbased Youth Trapping Corps (p. 22). This innovative program is dedicated to preventing feral hog damage throughout the state and is a partnership between Mississippi’s Department of Agriculture and its CTE leaders, instructors and students.

As you peruse the pages of this magazine, we hope you celebrate with us the extraordinary achievements of our educators, students and programs while inspiring others to join us in supporting CTE efforts across Mississippi.

Thank you for all you do to support Mississippi’s future workforce. I encourage you to share these stories of success with your friends, colleagues and students. Together, we can continue to drive positive change and empower the next generation of Mississippi’s workforce.

Sincerely, Brett Robinson Mississippi Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education Director

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We want to hear about your success stories, awards and program accomplishments!

Please submit a Help Desk ticket with your story idea to helpdesk@rcu.msstate.edu.

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CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

Featured Areas 2023 MS ACTE New Teacher of the Year ������ 4 Zach Bettinger

Female MCCTC Welders Compete................. 8 Warren Central Junior High School Students Celebrate CTE Month....................... 8 Construction Technology Students Build Birdhouses................................................. 9 New Albany School of Career and Technical Education Appoints New Ambassadors........... 9 2023 MS ACTE Counselor of the Year.........10 Paulette Edwards

Vicksburg Warren Students Earn Micro-Credentials.................................... 11 Culinary Arts Students ServSafe Certified ������ 12 New Albany Introduces Welding Classes ������ 12 Itawamba Welders............................................ 13 Former Student Visit Encourages Career Technical Educators............................. 13 2023 MS ACTE Administrator of the Year........ 14

Vicksburg Warren National Technical Honor Society 2023 Leadership Conference............... 21

Valerie Barton

Offering a Helping Hand.................................... 21

Marion County Students Host Blood Drive ����� 15

Going Whole Hog for Conservation................. 22

HCTEC Students Give Houston the Gift of Light............................................... 16

Mississippi Wild Hog Control Program Expands, Launches Nation’s First-Ever FFA-based Youth Trapping Corps

HCCTC Students Visit Ingalls........................ 17

Choctaw Central DECA Students Proudly Wave Their Flag.................................... 27

2023 MS ACTE Teacher of the Year.............. 18

From the Ground Up......................................... 28

Jennifer Frye

Coast Horticulture Program Rebuilds After Hurricane Zeta Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS

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2023 MS ACTE

New Teacher of the Year ZACH BETTINGER

By Nathan King 2023 Mississippi Association of Career Technical Educators (MS ACTE) Teacher of the Year Zachery Bettinger and his 10th-12th grade CTE students soar high into the Starkville skies with small, unmanned aircraft, from the grounds of Millsaps 4

CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

Career and Technical Center (MCTC). He teaches the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) course for the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District (SOSD).

His course covers Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations for safe drone maintenance and operation, advanced image capture, flight theory

and UAS-related careers within aerial photography, agriculture, security and Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) mapping. His classroom includes a manned fixed-wing flight simulator where students experience private pilot training. Students practice simulated and real-world flight maneuvers while gaining technical skills that broaden

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their career options.

“I greatly enjoy allowing students to develop skills through hands-on practice with each piece of tech found within my classroom at MCTC,” Bettinger said.

To prepare for teaching, Bettinger enrolled in a methods course that prepares UAS teachers that is offered by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and Mississippi State University’s Research and Curriculum Unit (RCU). His methods trainer for this course is David Weigle, the UAS teacher for PascagoulaGautier College and Career Technical Institute (PGCCTI), who prepared Bettinger to teach flight skills, aerial photography and autonomous mission planning. As a result of this training, Bettinger’s students develop 21st-century workforce skills, including critical thinking, creativity,

collaboration, communication, technological literacy and leadership while demonstrating proper multirotor and fixed-wing flight skills.

A transplant to Mississippi, Bettinger fondly said, “Warsaw, Indiana is home to me, snow and all.” He credits Benjamin Stansbury, a retired Robotics and Engineering teacher at Ocean Springs High School, as his inspiration for becoming a teacher, saying, “I strive every day to be the same motivational teacher to my students that he was to me.”

When discussing family connections that inspired him to work with UAS he said, “A large amount of my family were pilots. My father used to tell me stories of my great-grandfather, who flew ‘sky trains’ during World War II. While I was always interested in joining them, I was stricken blind in one eye by circumstance.”

When asked what he has learned personally through teaching this course, he lightheartedly replied, “Power lines are very hard to see and avoid when flying a drone while using its camera.”

Benjamin Berry, a UAS student and senior at SHS, said, “Mr. Bettinger has had a very educational and informational impact on me and other students who have taken or are currently taking this course.”

“I appreciate being able to practice flying drones on a flight simulator. In this class, I have learned all about the Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR) system. I am thankful to be given the opportunity to fly small UAS through a school course.” Berry also mentioned he “would highly recommend this course to other students who have an interest in aerospace technology.”

Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS

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Dr. Lenora Hogan stated Bettinger’s “interest and excitement for what he teaches proves that he is the right teacher for the job. Our school district was awarded the NCAC Perkins Reserve grant in 2022. At the time, Bettinger was an 8th-grade English department academic teacher for SOSD. I selected him to visit the Central Florida Aerospace Academy in Polk County to gauge his interest in this teaching position. He was genuinely excited to see that this type of program was available. His passion was to be a pilot. This course was the connector for him.”

She also stated, “Within a short amount of time, [Bettinger] began to send me field trip ideas and he found groups within the area that donated electronics and other technical devices to aid his students.”

After observing the academy’s flight simulator and various aeronautical hands-on learning opportunities, he told Dr. Hogan, “This is my calling.

This is what I was meant to do.”

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CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

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In addition to his teaching duties, Hogan mentioned that Bettinger initiated a Board Game Club.

Bettinger said, “The intention is to connect Starkville High School and MCTC students who are interested in strategy and narrative games.” He said, “This year our club received a Warhammer Alliance sponsorship!” Bettinger also coaches the Technology Student Association (TSA) student organization at MCTC as well.

Along with preparing his students through various tactical flight maneuvers, they receive their national FAA part 107 certifications. Hogan said Bettinger “has had success with many of his students in passing their certification tests.”

Bettinger’s goal is to prepare students to transition into UASrelated job opportunities in Mississippi. Regarding the broad

reach of UAS applications, Bettinger said he believes “these systems are going to become part and parcel of everyday life.”

Bettinger maintains contact with other UAS CTE teachers across the state. This aids in building a solid foundation for his students. He also built trusting partnerships with industry and his advisory committee members. His committee includes a group that flies drones for ESPN locally to film college-level sports events.

He has built partnerships with individuals connected to Mississippi State University’s (MSU’s) Broadcast Department and MSU Raspet Flight Research Laboratory to develop workbased learning opportunities.

“I owe a lot to MSU and their wonderful Broadcast Department.

My contacts Nikki Arellana and Jonathan Ashley are great folks out

that way,” he said.

Bettinger has high hopes for the future of his students enrolled in his UAS course. “I would like to help every student I teach gain their pilot’s license,” he said.

Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS

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news & notes

Female MCCTC Welders Compete Marion County Career Technical Center (MCCTC) students Alyana Brent and Rylee Sorrell have become fierce contenders in the landscape of welding competition in their area. During their tenure at MCCTC, the young ladies have learned to weld in all four positions using 6010 and 7018 electrodes. They have welded in the 1F, 2F, 3F and 4F positions and progressed to the 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and 6G positions. Brent and Sorrell have experienced welding industry equipment standards by learning gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, shielded metal arc welding and flux cored arc welding. Both can operate the oxyfuel torch and the hand plasma machine.

Brent and Sorrell participated in the Region 5 Skills USA competition, where they made up two of the three fabrication team members. Alyana and Rylee give the adage of doing anything “like a girl” a whole new meaning.

Brent and Sorrell were recently selected to compete in the first annual Darby

Pictured: Alyana Brent (L) and Rylee Sorrell (R) on the day of the Darby Ledet Competition. Both students came home with numerous prizes.

Ledet 6G structural steel Competition held at Greene County Vocational Center in Spring 2023. This competition was started in honor of Darby Ledet, a young man who was tragically killed in an

accident last year in Greene County.

Robert Boone, welding instructor at Marion County Career and Technology Center, consistently seeks opportunities for students to showcase their welding skills.

Warren Central Junior High School Students Celebrate CTE Month The month of February is nationally recognized as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, and one Warren Central Junior High School teacher took the opportunity to introduce her students to CTE opportunities in their district.

The eighth-grade students in Alisha Thomas’ Keystone class were tasked to research a career and explain what they discovered to their classmates. This engaging activity allowed students to analyze careers they were interested in and wanted to know more about.

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CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

news & notes

Construction Technology Students Build Birdhouses Students in the first year Construction Technology program at the Marion County Career and Technology Center mastered a variety of useful skills last year. They experienced extensive basic construction site safety training and were taught hand tools, power tools, construction drawings reading, materials handling and construction math. Students tested their skills by completing multiple projects, one of which was building birdhouses. Students read the blueprints, measured all materials, cut material to size and assembled the birdhouses using a pneumatic nail gun. When the students return for the second year of the program, they will learn the entire process of building a house. Students will learn how to construct a foundation, as well as how to build an envelope system.

First year Marion County Career and Technology Center students are shown building robin’s nest shelters. Pictured, from left, are Deante Jett, Jayden Fortenberry, Brian Foxworth and Kaden Sistrunk.

New Albany School of Career and Technical Education Appoints New Ambassadors NASCTE 2023-2024 Career Ambassadors are as follows: Front row, sitting (l-r): Dessy Madonna, Emily Raring, Daniella Roque, Madison Cartwright and Rachel Floyd. Middle row (l-r): Landry Kent, Maggie Dix, Jaci Holliman, Clara Short, Isabella Grose, Jaida Latsady, Alexandra Robertson and Andrea Grissom. Back row (l-r): Shyam Patel, Jon Jackson Bennett, Nathan Goodman, JT Newby, Jay Patel, Seth Koogler, Sean Coleman, Anderson Crews, Gavin Glover, Jeremiah Floyd, Hayes Daniel, Evan Williams, Jon Everett Garrison, Dylan Jackson and Jamison Garvey. Not Pictured: Jamison Miller, Skylin Gause and Carson Guerra.

Students who are selected as ambassadors serve as representatives for their CTE program of study and assist with student recruitment events and community activities.

Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS

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2023 MS ACTE

Counselor of the Year PAULETTE EDWARDS

By Heather Craig Paulette Edwards, counselor at Pascagoula-Gautier Career Technical Center (PGCTC), was recognized as 2023 Mississippi Association of Career Technical Educators (MS ACTE) Counselor of the Year at the MS ACTE conference this summer.

Edwards’ remarkable commitment to empowering students to make decisions that positively affect their futures has left an indelible mark on the educational landscape of Pascagoula.

Reflecting on her journey as a school counselor, Edwards said, “I want students to engage with their futures.”

She recognized early in her career that many high school students lacked essential knowledge about their educational paths, often relying solely on the school to guide them. With unwavering determination, Edwards set out to change this by ensuring that every student had the knowledge and the agency to make informed decisions about their high school classes and future endeavors.

One of her innovative programs, “15 minutes of FAME (Facts About My Education),” had counselors visiting classrooms for a brief yet impactful period each month. During these sessions, they presented lessons aimed at equipping students with fundamental knowledge about their educational 10 CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

paths and encouraging them to take ownership of their futures.

When transitioning to her role as a career technical education (CTE) counselor, Edwards observed that CTE students were more focused on their career interests and more likely to ask educated questions about their futures.

To cater to this dynamic, she introduced “Small Talk” sessions, fostering group discussions where students could freely ask questions and discuss topics related to their academic and career journeys.

Edwards’ educational philosophy revolves around the belief that all students can learn, so the focus should be on individualized learning experiences.

She champions the career academy model for high school, emphasizing that it fosters student engagement and ownership of their education. Her goal is not only to graduate students, but also to prepare them thoroughly for the next phase of their lives, whether it be college, a career or military service.

One of Edwards’ proudest achievements during her tenure as a CTE counselor was revolutionizing the process of student scheduling for CTE programs. Recognizing that the old system lacked personalization and input from program instructors, she initiated a new approach. Edwards started organizing focused tours for ninth graders, tailoring these tours to match students’ interests in specific academies.

PGCTC offers four academies, each catering to different fields, and Edwards wanted students to have a hands-on understanding of their potential paths.

These focused tours allowed students to spend time in classrooms, engaging in activities designed to help them grasp the essence of each program. The activities were led by second-year students and instructors. After completing the tour, students filled out an application form, which Edwards then used to create a spreadsheet for instructors. The vetting process included reviewing grades, attendance and behavior, enabling instructors to make informed decisions about which students to interview for their programs.

This innovative process of personalized

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program selection has empowered both students and instructors, fostering a sense of ownership in their educational journey.

Approximately 80% of instructors actively participate in this process, with all of them expressing overwhelming positivity about its impact.

PGCTI Director Derek Read said, “When I became CTE Director in 2020, the choice of person to replace me was a nobrainer. Mrs. Edwards had been my mentor since I first became CTE Counselor, and is someone whose opinion I value when having to make a tough decision.”

Since her transition to the role of a CTE counselor, Edwards has felt like a valuable member of Mississippi’s CTE family. Her dedication has been instrumental in focusing students on their CTE interests and giving their lives direction and purpose.

When asked what motivates her in the face of challenges, Edwards simply stated, “Students.” She understands the profound responsibility that counselors carry, often as unsung heroes holding the school community together. Her inspiration to become a counselor came from her interactions with students during her years as a classroom teacher and her work with youth at her church.

Seeing gaps in their education and career focus motivated her to become a counselor and bridge those gaps for students.

Edwards’ advice to her students is simple but profound: “Stay focused on your goals, and when you reach your goals, set more, keep going—you can do it!”

“She has what’s best for students in mind in everything she does,” Read said. “[She is] an active member and current president of MCA, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the CCTI and Pascagoula Gautier School District,” he added.

volume 21 | issue 2

| Summer 2023

BRINGING VR TO

THE

classroom

p 4

EMPOWERING

CY FOR EMERGEN 10 p PREPAREDNESS

FINDING

hope

THROUGH FOOD 18

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CONNECTIONS read online

@ www.rcu.msstate.edu/connections

news & notes

Vicksburg Warren Students Earn Micro-Credentials

Nadia Owsley (left) from Business Marketing and Finance and Terrion Johnson (right) from Simulation and Animation Design each earned their micro-credential in employability skills. The students completed an online training that included assessments designed to illustrate mastery throughout.

Communication, collaboration, critical thinking and resource management skills were part of the course providing micro-credentials in employability skills.

Students at the Vicksburg Warren Career Technical Center have the opportunity to learn job skills that provide them with a microcredential. MajorClarity (MC), Mississippi’s career exploration platform, is one source of micro-credentials for students throughout the state. MC offers these credentials to help students show employers they possess specific knowledge that enables them to enter the workplace with skills for success already in place.

Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS 11

news & notes

Culinary Arts Students ServSafe Certified

Marion County Career and Technology Center’s year two Culinary Arts students received the ServSafe Management National Certification credential during the 2022-2023 academic year. Students who received the certification during Fall 2022 include (from left) Shealin Buker, Madison Brunney, Sheridan Shoemo and Lynn Dixon. Zytrell Amos received the certification in Spring 2023.

New Albany Introduces Welding Classes In February, several New Albany students experienced a new opportunity at their School of Career and Technical Education (NASCTE). In a partnership between NASCTE and Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC), students have the opportunity to learn basic welding skills. The twice-weekly evening class, taught by NEMCC welding instructor John Garner introduces students to basic welding skills.

Photo: Standing with NEMCC welding instructor John Garner, New Albany School of Career and Technical Education (NASCTC) students participating in the welding class are as follows (l-r): Reed 12 CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

Taylor, Riley Porter, John Hayden Watson, Joshua Germany, Tucker Roberts, John Gray Davis and Aidan Ingram. Taylor, Porter, Watson and Ingram are enrolled

in the automotive program; Roberts and Davis are enrolled in the construction program, and Germany is enrolled in the engineering program at NASCTE.

news & notes

Itawamba Welders

The Welding students at Itawamba Career and Technical Center had a fun-filled year building everything from grills and fire pits to repairing trailer gates. They even gas tungsten arc-welded flowers for Mother’s Day!

Former Student Visit Encourages Career Technical Educators Hearing students describe the impact career and technical education (CTE) has made on their paths beyond high school is exactly the experience staff at the Vicksburg Warren Career and Technical Center needed to kick off the Fall 2023 semester with a bang.

Previous students from Engineering, Business and Marketing, and Welding classes all shared how enrolling in a CTE program has guided their journeys to where they are today. Of the civil engineer, accountant, welder and engineering students who visited, all have continued following their CTE path into their careers.

Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS 13

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2023 MS ACTE

Administrator of the Year VALERIE BARTON

By Heather Craig In recognition of her outstanding contributions to Career and Technical Education (CTE), retired Hinds Community College (Hinds) Dean of Secondary Career and Technical Education Valerie Barton was named the 2023 Mississippi ACTE Administrator of the Year.

Barton, now serving as the Workforce Coordinator and Career Coach Manager at the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District, received the award for her transformative work at Hinds and her unwavering commitment to empowering students on their journeys toward meaningful careers.

Barton’s journey as an administrator at Hinds began after a 12-year tenure as a school counselor.

When approached to lead a dropout prevention program tailored for high school students, she embraced the opportunity and quickly realized her calling in the world of CTE. Under her guidance, the program thrived, and Barton’s dedication to the field grew stronger.

Reflecting on her transition to administration, Barton shared, “My engagement with the Mississippi Association for Career and Technical Education (MS ACTE) was pivotal 14 CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

in preparing me for aiding students in their exploration of CTE options.”

She highlighted how each year, she willingly took on new responsibilities within the organization, expanding her horizons and fostering the exchange of best practices with fellow CTE educators.

It was not long before Barton’s passion for CTE became evident in her professional journey when she was entrusted with overseeing the Secondary Career and Technical Center at Hinds. Her dedication and visionary leadership transformed the center into a hub of career exploration, where students could actively engage with CTE programs, preparing for successful futures.

When asked about her motivation in the face of challenges, Barton spoke of her view of challenges as opportunities for growth. She emphasized that in education, the ultimate goal is to empower students to navigate life beyond high school successfully. CTE, in her eyes, equips students with lifelong skills, enabling them to secure sustainable livelihoods and play vital roles in society.

In her role as an advocate for students, Barton offered valuable advice, saying, “Discover your passions and explore career opportunities that align with those passions.” She stressed the

importance of high school as a unique window of opportunity for active exploration. Encouraging students to engage in meaningful conversations with professionals in their fields of interest and seek out job shadowing and other immersive experiences, she highlighted the significance of making informed career choices.

Furthermore, Barton underscored the crucial role of CTE in Mississippi’s employment landscape, emphasizing the need for skilled job opportunities that demand more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year college degree. CTE not only addresses this demand but also equips students with practical skills and competencies essential for

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success in these roles.

Recently retired from her role as the Dean of Secondary Career and Technical Education at Hinds Community College, Barton continues her mission to shape the future of Mississippi’s workforce.

In her new role at the CMPDD, she

remains a beacon of inspiration and a dedicated advocate for students pursuing their dreams through CTE. Barton’s journey serves as an inspirational testament to the transformative power of careerfocused education. As Hinds Vice President of CTE Instruction Sherry

Bellmon said, “During her tenure at Hinds, [Barton] achieved success in every division she led while also serving faithfully at the state level for Secondary CTE. She is most worthy of the recognition as the 2023 MS ACTE Administrator of the Year. Her excellent work speaks for itself.”

Marion County Students Host Blood Drive

The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) sponsored a blood drive in August with assistance from students enrolled in the Marion County Career and Technology Center’s (MCCTC) health science and sports medicine programs. Students from MCCTC donated 56 units of blood.

These real-life heroes at MCCTC made a difference in more than 150 lives for every unit of blood donated.

Health science and sports medicine students checked blood pressure, maneuvered students to and from class and escorted students to the Vitalant bus.

MCCTC NTHS is sponsored by Amy Baughman, Debbie Brumfield and Chandra Expose. Katie Albritton teaches health science and Grace Ali Spradley teaches sports medicine.

Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS 15

news & notes

HCTEC Students Give Houston the Gift of Light

The City of Houston asked the Houston Career and Technology Education Center’s (HCTEC’s) electricity class to partner with them to refurbish the lights that adorn the Chickasaw County Courthouse every Christmas. Last year, the students completely refurbished all four strands by replacing the wiring, fixtures and bulbs.

Houston Mayor Stacy Parker said, “What I learned when I took the electrician class, I have been able to use even to date helping the city as well as in my own home. The goal is for the City of Houston to partner with the [HCTEC], sharing each of our resources.”

Electrical students serve the community by helping rewire the lights displayed on the Chickasaw County Courthouse every Christmas, providing HCTEC students the opportunity to learn valuable skills while helping the community.

The new lights are LED, which will be more energy efficient.

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HCTEC Director Teresa Moore says these experiences bring students closer to the community and help them learn the meaning of pride in a job well done. “The students not only learn skills in the classroom but also learn they are developing skills that will help them in the future. Every time those kids drive through town during the holidays, they will remember their contribution to the lights around the square,” Moore said.

news & notes

HCCTC Students Visit Ingalls

HCCTC Students received a welcome presentation from Ingalls.

An Ingalls Shipbuilding employee explains equipment and machinery to HCCTC students.

HCCTC students used the Ingalls HCCTC students convene in an Ingalls Shipbuilding CNC machines to make a souvenir Ingalls Shipbuilding logo conference room. from their visit.

HCCTC students pose in Ingalls Shipbuilding’s lobby.

Harrison County Career and Technical Center (HCCTC) students visited and toured Ingalls Shipbuilding spring semester of 2023.

Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS 17

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2023 MS ACTE

Teacher of the Year JENNIFER FRYE

By Adrienne Minor Along the coast of Mississippi in the shadow of Gulfport and Biloxi lies a hidden gem — the city of Pass Christian.

Featuring majestic homes dating back to the 1800s on Scenic Drive and a World War Memorial Park, Pass Christian, or the “Pass” as locals call it, has a rich history.

At Pass Christian High School, another gem can be found in Jennifer Frye, a Family and Consumer Science educator.

Recipient of the 2023 Mississippi Association of Career and Technical Educators (MS ACTE) Teacher of the Year Award, Frye is making a lasting impact on the future of her students, ensuring that they are college and career ready.

Creating Real Experiences for Students “My goal is always being open minded and looking for ways to make a positive impact through innovative projects and partnerships,” Frye says.

One such project involved creating a partnership between her child development students and a kindergarten class. It involved taking the children’s illustrations of a monster and bringing them to life as stuffed animals. The students then presented the animals and read the books they created based on the kindergarteners’ monsters.

As a result, Frye explains, her students “learn about the importance of play, toy 18 CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

HOOL CHILD IAN HIGH SC PASS PASS CHRIST RTNER WITH PA TS EN UD R PCHS STUDENTS WIN BIG AT THE 2022-23 DEVELOPMENT ST STUDENTS FO RY TA EN EM CHRISTIAN EL MISSISSIPPI FCCLA STATE COMPETITION OJECT PR R TE NS MO On March 28-30th ten Pass Christian High School FCCLA members traveled to Natchez Mississippi to attend the state FCCLA meeting and compete in 7 events.

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feature PCHS FCCLA COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

FCCLA members discussed and decided that our community service focus this year would be our local nursing home residents. Students recognized that nursing home residents are often lonely and depressed. They wanted to work on making a difference to our local nursing home residents by bringing them joy and happiness any way possible. Members made fall wreaths to hang on each resident's door. Each month fourteen students will visit Pass Christian Health and Rehabiliation Center to host an activity and spend time with residents.

On November 3rd members helped residents create handprint turkeys. Twelve members have also adopted twelve residents to be pen pals with and the first set of pen pal letters were delivered at the same time. Students had a great time and were sad to know the next visit is in January and not next week!

Thank you to Mrs. Shawanda Dedeaux for helping us plan and allowing us to visit along with Harrah's Caesars Foundation for the grant funding our community service this year!

safety, literacy skills, characteristics of good children’s books, the importance of reading to children and so much more.

The kindergartners are exposed to a new, fun reason to read a story with a character they created.”

Additionally, students were paired as pen pals with nursing home residents. Frye thrives on creating authentic assignments for her students.

For instance, Frye reached out to Gulfport Center of Nonviolence, for whom her Family Dynamics class created public service announcements (PSAs) on dating violence. Frye also transformed her Hospitality and Tourism class into “Hospitality Agency.”

Beyond this, she connected her students to work as volunteers with local nonprofit community leaders, or “clients,” who expressed their needs to the students. Frye took on the role of coach and supervisor as her students found solutions.

“Instead of students completing a project just to turn in to me for a grade, they create a product for the school, community or an individual,” Frye explains.

“When given an authentic assignment, students see the connection of the material to real-world situations, put more effort into them and get more out of seeing their work in real life outside of the classroom.”

Investing in Future Leaders An active advisor in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Frye is unyielding in supporting students as members in the organization.

While Frye provides mentorship to her students — many of them competing at the local, state and national levels — she has coached several students who have run for state office and has provided advice for elected students.

Samantha Humphries is one of Frye’s former students and a Special Education Teacher at Lake View Elementary School.

Recounting how Frye supported her in FCCLA state conferences, Humphries states, “Mrs. Frye is the reason I became a state officer for FCCLA. Not only did she teach me things like cooking, planning events and more, but she also taught me how to communicate and lead people.

Mrs. Frye played a major part in helping me be who I am today.”

Frye’s impact does not stop there.

Through collaboration with an advisory committee member, Frye found and was awarded a $10,000 grant to fund her local FCCLA chapter for the 2021-2022 school year.

“Not being one to simply take the path of

least resistance that others routinely choose to follow, Mrs. Frye instead embraces challenges and strives to accomplish the lofty professional and personal goals she sets for herself,” says Dr. Robin Killebrew, Pass Christian Public School District’s Assistant Curriculum Director.

Leveraging Community Involvement What’s more, Frye seeks out ways to bring industry partners and community organizations into her classroom. “Mrs. Frye is a machine who never cuts off… she won’t stop until you understand,” says Narissa Behrens-Brown a parent volunteer and local realtor.

“She allows our youth to have a deeper understanding of personal personal development, providing opportunities to become inspired to either pursue career and workforce skills, personal finance, nutrition and parent and child development.”

The relationships Frye develops with community organizations, like “Let’s Go Gulf Coast” and with Ochsner Health’s “Eat Fit CHOP Kids in the Kitchen,” provides many opportunities for students to be exposed to potential career options. She also developed Guest Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS 19

feature

National PCHS Celebrates k School Lunch Wee

at Pass Christian 14th-17th 2023 h week October t healthy onal School Lunc awareness abou FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Frye, Family and Consumer Science celebrating Nati rtunity to raise This We had a blast h week is an oppo success stories. e lunc ol shar Teacher and FCCLA Adviser and scho onal ent participation, day in the High School. Nati stud each ase ities incre activ with served at school, school lunches Phone: 228-452-2008 and thy heal ition school lunches ing Nutr ents enrolled in have fun celebrat to stud Email: jfrye@pc.k12.ms.us able nce and Scie were r ialist week we Consume ict Nutrition Spec lunch. Family and the school distr cafeteria during facilitated them bers worked with and mem ities LA activ FCC as well as designed the activities. On Four students from Pass Christian High School Competed in the National STAR Event Competition at the 2023 Wellness class s activities. They FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Denver, CO, July 2-6, 2023 ged duirng all the head up this week ptive and enga FCS Teacher to s again!" very positive, rece e sorts of thing Students were need to do thes during lunches. ent said that "We stud one y Frida Denver, CO, July 2023 – The 2023 FCCLA National Leadership Conference (NLC) took place in Denver, CO from July the and er 2-6, drawing more than 7,900 students, educators, and guests from across the nation. This gathering provided a valuable received a stick a school lunch h wave forplatform for attendees to expand their leadership skills, sharpen their talents, explore career pathways, and listen to Students who ate asked each lunc inspiring speakers. questions were following trivia school lunch item the most popular onal Nati the prizes: What is was Aria Grady was chosen through a rigorous application process to serve as one of ten content creators and worked behind t year ken nuggets, Wha 5 scenes with FCCLA national staff to create content from the conference throughout the week! She conducted t are thethe nationwide? Chic d? 1946 and Wha lope deve interviews, made videos and edited it all to create one of a kind content to be used throughout the next year to promote ram , table School Lunch prog ein, dairy, vege Prot h?

FCCLA and the national leadership conference. lunc a healthy components of . fruit and grain

competed at ng lunch students can be ol lunch week. Duri a healthy lunch advertised scho components of We decorated and y, fruit in the ned how many patt t lear mea and the er” in ein “building a burg se all in n in the bun, prot chee grai the the in y as item such pickles and dair included in one At the heart of the conference were the highly anticipated Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) Events. Over ce, onions, and tables in the lettu 4,300 FCCLA members competed in these events, where they were recognized for their proficiency and achievement in tomato slices, vege a hamburger. chapter and individual projects, leadership skills, and career preparation. The collaboration between youth and adults in managing the events and evaluating participants allowed students to develop real-world skills and gain valuable insights.

STAR Events play a pivotal role in supporting student development by enhancing their classroom experience and guiding them towards successful career pathways. With more than 30 events to choose from, participants have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities by actively addressing important issues concerning families, careers, or communities. By researching the topic and implementing projects to advocate for positive change, students acquire valuable skills and industry insights needed to thrive in the 21st century.

Students being Neighbors, Friends, Collabo rators

Pass Christian High School FCCLA mem bers have been their new partners learning how to hip with Louisian be neighborly in a school, Larose-C are steadily wor ut Off Middle Sch king together, help ool. The students ing each other building a partners with community hip. To kick off service project the partnership, New Orleans' Cele s, and they designed and dec bration in the Oak orated a tree in s with the Toy Stor Me." Larose-Cut y Theme "You've Off Middle Sch ool students mad Got a Friend in Christian High e and sen School students t ornaments for made ornamen the tree. Pass November 8, 202 ts and put the tree 2. Both sets of together on Tue students are exci sday other and build ted to work toge this partnership! ther, learn from This entire coll example of wha each aboration and part t Family and Con nership is a grea sumer Sciences Community Lea t (FCS) education ders of America and Family, Car (FCCLA) teaches collaboration, care eer, and students: leadersh er skills, life skill ip skills, teamwor s and more! Cele k, 24th-January 1st brat ion in the Oaks is ope in New Orleans n November City Park. Visit and see our tree in person!

Speaker Influencers program, which offers opportunities for students to learn about a wide range of careers through short yet engaging presentations.

Frye demonstrates her passion for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and finds resourceful ways to showcase CTE programs.

“Not only does CTE teach career skills, technical skills — it also teaches life skills.” A yearly keynote speaker in her community’s rotary club, Frye shares about her program and the significance of CTE. At least once a year, she welcomes the 20 CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

mayor into her classroom to share with students about the local economy and government and uses this opportunity to discuss the importance of CTE. She even leads a month-long celebration during CTE month to raise awareness and to share relevant information for students.

For Frye, her purpose is clear: “It is important for me to prepare students for life after high school. Whichever path a student chooses, I hope to have instilled in them the skills and knowledge that will help them be successful. From study and test-taking skills for those pursuing higher education to career

readiness skills for those who will enter the workforce — I will strive to prepare them for their future.”

Receiving the 2023 MS ACTE Teacher of the Year Award is not something Frye takes lightly: “I am very humbled and honored to have received this award as I know I am one of many hard-working, dedicated and passionate CTE teachers.

I am much more comfortable in the background supporting my students with them being recognized. It is nice to be recognized for the hard work, time and passion I put in, and it is good for my program.”

news & notes

Vicksburg Warren National Technical Honor Society 2023 Leadership Conference In spring semester 2023, the Vicksburg Warren National Technical Honor Society chapter attended the annual Mississippi National Technical Honor Society Leadership Conference.

All 24 members of the Vicksburg Warren chapter were able to network and interact with fellow NTHS members from different chapters across the state. The first day provided a way for students to tour the historic Jackson State University and learn about various academic programs offered from faculty members and current students.

After the visit to JSU, students were able to learn about the rich history of Mississippi by visiting the state’s Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

On the last day, members of the

chapter were able to network with other chapters during the collaborative breakfast sessions. During the last session, students were given presentations on how to become peer counselors and how to recognize if their fellow students are abusing drugs.

Senior NTHS member Aisha Williams stated, “I did not know what to expect from the conference since it was my first time attending; however, I enjoyed the atmosphere and being able to network with individuals of various backgrounds.”

Offering a Helping Hand

Carpentry students at the Vicksburg Warren Career and Technical Center worked with the Golden Leaders of Leadership ‒ Vicksburg to help provide residents at The Vicksburg Convalescent Center a revitalized

outdoor courtyard space.

Through the generous donation of material from Home Hardware Center, the students — alongside their instructor Mark Mitchell — built an outdoor swing and two planters for the

local nursing home. The opportunity to be part of this project allowed the students to see how the knowledge and skills learned in their program can be used to help those around them and in their community.

Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS 21

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Going

Whole Hog

for Conservation

Mississippi Wild Hog Control Program Expands, Launches Nation’s First-Ever FFA-based Youth Trapping Corps

By Will Graves Images of animal trappers stealthily navigating the forest might evoke childhood memories of fabled tales of mountain people and folklore of early expeditions on the American Frontier. In 22 CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

the 18th- and 19th-centuries, trapping and trading fur paved the way for westward expansion and began to chart the expansive North American wilderness.

Though times have changed and technology has progressed in the area of wildlife and land management, the

tradition of animal trapping is on the rise nationwide — this time in the name of conservation.

Mississippi is now stepping up as an innovative leader in tackling the evergrowing, costly feral hog problem that plagues both wild and agricultural lands

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across the state.

In a July press conference, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) Commissioner Andy Gipson announced that after officially receiving full funding, the agency is expanding the Mississippi Wild Hog Control Program (MWHCP) by launching the nation’s first Youth Trapping Corps.

“Last year at this time, I announced our partnership with Mississippi FFA to expand our wild hog control program to include a youth education and professional development component — the [MWHCP] Youth Trapping Corps.

Today, I am proud to report this program has been fully funded through a federal grant, and MDAC is working with 25 schools across the state to implement the youth trapping corps,” Gipson said. “This funding opportunity was made possible

by U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. I appreciate Senator Hyde-Smith’s efforts in securing the funds needed to get this program off the ground. Her continued support of agriculture and Mississippi’s

youth will help ensure the success of the Youth Trapping Corps.”

Rooting Out a Big Pig Problem Wild hogs are a costly problem and can do a considerable amount of damage in very little time. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that wild hogs can cause more than $1.5 billion in property damage annually. MDAC says on average, wild hogs damage more than $62 million of valuable crops per year in Mississippi alone. Wild hogs present a significant threat to the integrity of Mississippi’s food supply.

Wild hogs are found in each of Mississippi’s 82 counties, and due to a sharp increase in feral hog populations and damage reports, MDAC created the MWHCP — the first program in the country aimed at combatting the nuisance pig problem.

Gipson said the MWHCP, which provides a cost-share with participating landowners, has seen great outcomes in

reducing wild hog numbers thus far.

“Our Wild Hog Control Program has seen great success and demand. We have helped farmers and landowners remove over 2,500 wild hogs from their properties,” Gipson said. “Wild hogs are non-native, nuisance animals and cause substantial damage to row crops, pastures and forestlands; carry harmful diseases; and eat the eggs and young of many wildlife species. Our agency is dedicated to protecting the communities and livelihoods of the people who make up our largest industry in Mississippi — agriculture. I encourage landowners and managers to apply for this unique program and continue the fight against wild hogs across our state.”

Connecting FFA Members With Landowners Mississippi FFA’s partnership with MDAC in the MWHCP will open up more opportunities for students to gain valuable skills while establishing

Opposite page: Wild hog populations can destroy crops in very little time. As seen here, the natural rooting behavior exhibited by swine can decimate a crop plot. (Photo by Mississippi State University Extension Service) Above: Representatives from partnering organizations along with private sector sponsors celebrate the expansion of the MWHCP and the opportunities the youth trapping corps will bring for FFA members and landowners across the state. (Photo by MDAC) Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS 23

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Brandon High School Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor Kramer Sowell (center) and Brandon FFA member Hunter Robinson (right) speak to attendees during a press conference at the Mississippi Trade Mart where Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson (left) announced the launch of the MWHCP Youth Trapping Corps. (Photo by MDAC) working relationships and solving wild hog problems with private landowners in their communities. MDAC says by extending the MWCHP to include a youth component, the state is making an investment in the future of Mississippi’s agricultural workforce.

As of now, there are 25 FFA chapters participating in the program and they will soon receive funding to begin procuring traps, cameras and other needed equipment. Part of participation in the youth trapping corps includes training, where FFA members will learn best practices for successful trapping of large groups of wild hogs.

Brandon High School is one of the FFA chapters participating in the youth trapping corps. Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor Kramer Sowell and Brandon FFA member Hunter Robinson attended the Youth Trapping Corps announcement press conference and spoke about the impact the grant will have for both FFA 24 CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

The MWHCP provides an application-based cost-share option that helps landowners access the technology needed to trap nuisance feral hogs. This collage shows examples of the types of trap pens and digital tools used by landowners to monitor, trap and reduce wild hog populations. (Photo by MDAC) members and landowners.

“This is so important for our kids,” Sowell said. “It trains them in so many

ways. It gives them the opportunity to talk to landowners and farmers, which helps their speaking. They’re going to

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MWHCP Youth Trapping Corp Grant Awardees 2023 ($25,000 each) SCHOOL

TEACHER

COUNTY

CITY

Alcorn CTC

Rodney Fagen

Alcorn

Corinth

Brandon High School

Kramer Sowell

Rankin

Brandon

Clarkdale High School

Tyler Carroll

Lauderdale

Meridian

Covington County CTE

Michael Jones

Covington

Collins

Forrest County Ag High School

Mary Helen Lett

Forrest

Brooklyn

Lawrence County CTC

Derek Huffman

Lawrence

Monticello

Mantachie High School

Matt Spradling

Itawamba

Mantachie

McLaurin High School

Josh Rusche

Rankin

Florence

Mize Attendance Center

Doug Thornton

Smith

Mize

Nanih Waiya

West Watkins

Winston

Louisville

Neshoba Central High School

Kevin Hollingsworth

Neshoba

Philadelphia

Newton County CTC

Thomas Hall

Newton

Decatur

Northeast Jones High School

Logan Dale & Ashley Wagnon

Jones

Laurel

Pontotoc Ridge CTC

Clint Young

Pontotoc

Pontotoc

Puckett High School

Patrick Lemoine

Rankin

Puckett

Smithville Attendance Center

Kayla Eaton

Monroe

Smithville

South Jones High School

Haley Thomas & Clay Smith

Jones

Ellisville

South Panola High School

Reginald Carter

Panola

Batesville

Stringer Attendance Center

Megan White

Jasper

Stringer

Tishomingo County CTC

Chloe Stroupe

Tishomingo

Tishomingo

Union High School

Scott Breedlove

Newton

Union

Vardaman High School

Amanda Taylor

Calhoun

Vardaman

West Jones High School

Kenneth Parker

Jones

Laurel

West Lauderdale High School

Danny Johnson

Lauderdale

Collinsville

Wheeler High School

Steven Byrd

Prentiss

Booneville

be able to get in a place to talk to these landowners, they’re going to learn how to trap and ethically handle animals, learn the importance of wildlife management and how detrimental these hogs are to the State of Mississippi and the rest of the United States. These hogs are everywhere — they are a nuisance. The $25,000 grant will go a long way. We can buy tools to build and repair traps, so it helps to build every aspect of it.”

Robinson followed up by saying, “I’m

very excited for all the new traps and equipment we are going to get. I think the program is very good for us to be able to learn about handling animals and how to set up traps.”

Participating FFA chapters should have received grant funds by the end of September, so FFA members will be gearing up for training and setting traps to reduce the wild hog population. Gipson has a positive outlook for the program and is excited about the statewide reach and

impact the MWHCP Youth Trapping Corp will have for landowners and the benefit it will have in building up student capacity to learn and succeed in agriculture.

“The program has so much potential,” Gipson said. “Just at Brandon — there are 200 hundred students involved in that program. You take that and you go all around the State of Mississippi and we’re going to be able to reach young people that we might not reach otherwise.”

Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS 25

26 CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

news & notes

Choctaw Central DECA Students Proudly Wave Their Flag DECA members at Choctaw Tribal Schools (CTS) Career and Technical Education Center (C-TEC) in Choctaw wanted to find a way to serve their community in the 2022-2023 school year.

After several meetings, the school’s DECA members decided they would do a year-long community service project by which they would have a flagpole erected at the CTS C-TEC campus where they attend. This was a multifaceted project, and DECA members were exposed to many levels of business.

CTS C-TEC DECA members spent the whole year planning the location, organizing and implementing fundraising activities, obtaining quotes, preventing utility damage, learning the history of the tribal flag, creating an informational website, and learning about citizenship as well as how to handle and display the flags. Members used many principles of DECA, including finance and marketing.

Fundraising activities included selling a knitted blanket with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI) flag on it. They also made and sold t-shirts that had a picture of the MBCI flag. The back had a QR Code people could scan with their cell phone camera and be taken to a website that shared information about the MBCI flag and its history and symbolism.

On May 5, CTS C-TEC DECA was able to host a flagpole dedication ceremony, showcasing all the hard work that was put into making this happen. The formal ceremony included special guests — Choctaw Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben, Vice Chief Ronnie Henry, and Council members Deborah Martin and Kent Wesley were in attendance.

Also present were the CTS Director of Schools Dr. Randy Grierson and Assistant Director of Schools Delnita Jones, Choctaw Central High School Principal Alaric Keams and C-TEC Administrator Sherry Tubby.

Students had the high school band play the national anthem, while American Indian Day Princess Shaystin

Lewis and Brave De’Ryan Williamson recited the Pledge of Allegiance in the Choctaw language.

CTS C-TEC DECA sponsors Susan Strickline and Adam Lewis gave an overview on the process of getting the flagpole at the C-TEC and look forward to next year’s community service project.

Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS 27

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From the

Ground Up

Coast Horticulture Program Rebuilds After Hurricane Zeta

By Will Graves

Horticulture students at George County High School (GCHS) are excited to be using their newly rebuilt growing facilities after Hurricane Zeta flattened the school greenhouses.

When Hurricane Zeta made landfall in late October 2020, George County 28 CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

and the City of Lucedale sustained widespread heavy damage.

GCHS received significant structural damage across its campus, and the horticulture program’s greenhouse facilities and plants were a near total loss.

“I was sitting out there at about 9:15 when it collapsed. There was a gust in

excess of 100mph. They folded like a pancake,” Horticulture Teacher Rick McMullan told the GCHS Student Press.

The strength of Zeta packed a powerful punch — one that many coast residents simply were not prepared for. Experts described the storm as the most damaging

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hurricane to hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Combining the already existing COVID-19 pandemic with a powerful hurricane definitely made for a difficult year.

“I’m 61 years old this year [in 2022], and I’ve been through a lot of stuff in the nursery business in the last 40 years when I had my nursery and teaching here, and I’ve never seen a year where so many things happened,” McMullen said. “We won’t even know what to remember this year.”

Despite the severity of damage to school property and lengthy recovery for area residents, GCHS emerged out of the debris, rebuilding to be better than ever to continue serving the students of George County.

While waiting for insurance claims to be filed for the storm damage, McMullen started planning. Before long, students were out cleaning up debris and salvaging as many plants as possible. Then it was time to really get to work — rebuilding.

“We grazed the site down to the ground and started completely over; there was no saving anything,” McMullan said.

Despite a learning curve and facing several challenges along the way, his students stepped up to the plate to help rebuild from the ground-up.

“The gutters were really hard to get leveled,” said Grace Cumberland, a GCHS junior at the time of the rebuild. “We all had to help hold it together — putting the shade on — it was all really tough but we got it.”

McMullen told WLOX, a local news outlet serving the area, one of the most special aspects of the rebuild project was that it was 100% a student-driven effort.

Opposite page: Horticulture requires hard work and a lot of daily upkeep. Here, GCHS horticulture students collect fruit from a pear orchard in August 2022.

Top: The beginning of the school year is a busy time for horticulture programs like GCHS that sell plants to the community. These two GCHS students are taking care of daily greenhouse chores in preparation of their fall plant sale. Above: GCHS horticulture students enjoy an unseasonably cool day working in the greenhouses in August. Though large-scale horticultural production can be demanding work, students enjoy the opportunities they get to be outside together tending to plants.

(Photos by GCHS Horticulture) Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS 29

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Above: Rebuilding the greenhouses was a team effort. As seen here, it was a student-driven project that taught basic building skills and encouraged critical thinking and collaboration among classmates. From laying the foundation to draping and securing the plastic coverings, each person contributed their part in the rebuild. Opposite page: GCHS horticulture has a long track record of being a high-achieving program, and their competitive edge in FFA has maintained their status as the state champion horticulture team for nearly 15 years. Students are involved in every aspect of production, and they get to see their hard work pay off by hosting wildly popular plant sales. High school FFA chapters and agriculture programs are a fantastic place to purchase plants that will in turn support student-centered learning. (Photos by GCHS Horticulture)

“Every bolt, every screw, clamp — everything in here — welds, everything was done by students,” McMullan explained to WLOX. “Everything under our feet all the way to the top is new. This facility should service this community for the next 30 to 40 years.”

Though the circumstances that led to the rebuilding of the greenhouses were not ideal, the students persevered, and two years later they are now enjoying the fruits of their labor by using the state-of-theart greenhouse facilities they built themselves.

The new facilities are comprised of three greenhouses, one pole barn and a new parking area for plant sale customers. The greenhouses 30 CONNECTIONS Fall 2023

serve as more than a horticultural classroom for these students. They also serve as a fully functioning small business where students grow and sell plants, ultimately allowing them to put profits back into the program to save for future projects and plant production.

With a nearly 15-year winning streak as the Mississippi FFA Horticulture Career Development Event state champion, GCHS horticulture means business and the hardworking students there went above and beyond to ensure longevity and great success for the generations of horticulture students yet to come.

McMullen told WLOX that the credit for GCHS’s tradition of excellence in its horticulture program

goes to his late father. McMullen said his father, a former GCHS principal, encouraged him around 20 years ago to enter the classroom and lead the horticulture program.

“He thought education was a calling, like the ministry, and he was one of the smartest people I ever knew,” McMullan shared with WLOX. “He taught me so many lessons...I miss him every day. He was my inspiration.”

Now back at full production capacity, the GCHS horticulture program can continue providing locally-grown plants for their community while building on their long track record of success and making career and industry connections.

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Fall 2023 CONNECTIONS 31

From the

Ground Up ��������������p. 28

TELL YOUR STORY! Email your CONNECTIONS news to helpdesk@rcu.msstate.edu.

Published by the Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit.