Holmes County Career Coach Helps Students Take Charge of Their Futures

Lorene Haymer connects students with local employers and in-demand professions

Many students attend college after high school even though the college track isn’t right for everyone. With the help of career coaches, students are discovering financially rewarding career options that don’t involve four-year degrees—often in their own back yards.   

Career coaches are deployed by AccelerateMS, established legislatively in 2020 as Mississippi’s lead workforce development office. Career coaches step in where the duties of traditional guidance counselors end, working with students to find the best paths to their career goals.

“We try to reach students who may not be plugged in or who don’t know what they want to do after graduation,” said Lori Nail, a program manager at AccelerateMS. “Many just don’t fit the traditional high school student mold.” 

Hired through the South Delta Planning and Development District, Lorene Haymer is in her first year as a career coach at Holmes County Central High School. 

“I spent 37 years as an educator in Holmes County, and when I retired, I decided I didn’t want to leave the kids,” Haymer said. “I love that as a career coach, I can continue to inspire and motivate students while helping them one-on-one toward a career path.” 

Haymer hit the ground running at Holmes County CHS, launching an outreach campaign to invite local employers to speak to students and take students on field trips to area businesses.

“Exposure to local employers gives students an idea of what kind of careers are out there if they decide not to attend college,” Haymer said. “We also talk about the soft skills they’ll need for the professional workplace.”

Some of Haymer’s students are enrolled in work-based learning programs offered by medical clinics, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and other area employers. She also coordinates job-shadowing opportunities that connect students with potential career tracks.

“One student has shadowed my dentist in his office,” she said. “If a student can shadow first, they get a better idea of what a job entails. For me, it’s all about trying to bridge the gap between businesses and schools.” 

Many of her students attend Holmes County Career and Technical Center, and five have completed the free commercial driver’s license program at the DSC Training Academy in Holmes County. After earning their licenses, students can land jobs with premier trucking companies that offer competitive wages and benefits.

Haymer also partners with Holmes Community College to raise awareness about training programs for in-demand careers, including lucrative trade professions. 

So far, Haymer has worked one-on-one with 212 students, including seniors, juniors and sophomores. Her goal next year is to extend career-outreach programs to freshmen.

“Many students already know me from when I was a teacher here,” she said. “It’s always been my dream to give back to students in Holmes County. No matter what they may be interested in doing in the future, I’m going to help them find the right path forward.”

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. 

Learn more at www.coaches.acceleratems.org/.