In March, Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District welcomed more than 45 teacher interns and job candidates enrolled at Mississippi State University and other colleges for a luncheon to celebrate their participation in Jacket Thrive Intersession and answer questions about job opportunities in the district.
SOCSD Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Vernita Wilson, welcomed the interns and led them in a team-building icebreaker. Although many of the interns knew each other from college coursework, the activity helped them step outside their chosen subject area and grade level.
"We are very excited to welcome you this afternoon," Wilson shared with the group. "We are proud of the work you have been doing as interns in our classrooms, and wanted to provide an opportunity for you to speak with our school administrators."
Attendees also heard from SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee and several of the district's principals.
"You are entering one of the greatest professions," McGee shared with interns. "It's one of the most rewarding jobs, but also, as you may have seen already, one of the most challenging. But, the relationships and long-term impact you have on our boys and girls far outweighs the struggles. We are thankful for the work you are doing in our classrooms."
Dr. Watress Harris, principal at Starkville High School, also shared thoughts with the candidates about the long-lasting rewards of teaching.
"I'm a graduate of Starkville High School myself," he said. "I grew up in Starkville, and I still remember some of the teachers here who poured into me and helped me navigate high school. In a school like SHS, we see the only place in a child's K-12 education where teachers and adults in the building have four years to impact a child. That's not found at any other level. The ways we can influence a child's future over those four crucial years in a child's life is immeasurable. I'm living proof of that."
This is the second year SOCSD has hosted a similar event for teacher interns –– an idea Wilson brought to the district as a way to capitalize on existing relationships with Mississippi State University College of Education students as more and more districts face a critical teacher shortage. The luncheon is one way the district hopes to attract up-and-coming talent to apply for job opportunities available at each grade level.
Each year, SOCSD accommodates more than 80 student interns in classrooms across the district to fulfill in-service hours and requirements for a degree in Education from one of the state's universities. Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee described these internships as on-the-job interviews.
"Some of you have already interviewed with one of our principals for a job after graduation," he said. "But, each of you have already participated in a semester-long interview process. Your work in our classrooms under the mentorship of Yellow Jacket teachers and administrators has allowed us to get to know you and you to know us also."
"I've been in several districts over the course of my career, and Starkville is one of the best places to work," he continued. "You won't find a more passionate and dedicated group of colleagues to begin your career with."
