Oxford Career Coach Helps Students Achieve Their Career Dreams

Wadley’s conversations, community connections are paying off for OHS students

In high schools across Mississippi, AccelerateMS career coaches are opening doors of opportunity through the simple act of opening conversations. Those exchanges are helping more and more students find rewarding career pathways into Mississippi’s workforce.

“Many students don’t know what they want to do after high school because they’ve never had a conversation about it,” said Neoykee Wadley, a career coach at Oxford High School. “They also don’t know about scholarships and other resources that are available to support them. It’s a rewarding process to find out what they’re really interested in and help them make decisions about their future.”

Over the past year, AccelerateMS has placed 176 career coaches in 115 school districts across Mississippi. As the state’s lead workforce development office, AccelerateMS supports strategies to connect Mississippians with transformative, high-paying careers. 

Wadley started as a career coach in October 2022 after a lengthy career in education. At Oxford High School, she and fellow career coach Heather Orman are responsible for nearly 1,400 students in grades 9-12, in addition to around 300 eighth graders who are being introduced to career concepts.

“We’re here to assist all students but gravitate toward seniors who don’t know what they want to do after graduation,” Wadley said. “Now that we’ve been here a while, there’s a better understanding of our role at the high school and in the community.”

A key aspect of career coaching is community involvement. Wadley and Orman network with business and industry leaders, who in turn offer paid internships for students and other developmental opportunities. Employers include Northwest Mississippi Regional Center, Baptist Memorial Hospital and the University of Mississippi. Winchester Ammunition also operates a facility in Oxford; students must be at least 18 to qualify for employment.

Internship programs are supported by grants from the Oxford School District’s Community and Workforce Development office and Three Rivers Planning and Development District.

“Students can go to school for part of the day and then go to their internships and earn $12 an hour,” Wadley said. “We have more students, including juniors, who are asking about internships, so the word is spreading about all the great things we have going on.”

Coaches also rely on counselors to help identify students who may need extra guidance in choosing a career path. One of their referrals was a student who made good grades and did well on the ACT. Despite his strong academic performance, he’d ruled out college because of the cost. When he expressed an interest in working outside, Wadley arranged a meeting with a local firefighter and toured the fire station with the student.

“At the end of the day, he signed up to be a volunteer firefighter,” Wadley said. “With support from the Community and Workforce Development office, we were able to offer a paid internship so he can earn money while gaining experience, and the Fire Department will pay for him to continue his education after he joins. Career coaching is a great job because we’re always learning new things about our community that can change students’ lives.”

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/.