December 2023

Career coaches are a network of community college employees who are based in high schools across Southside Virginia. They help high school students define their career aspirations and recognize community college and other postsecondary programs, including apprenticeships and workforce training that can help students achieve their educational and financial goals. The fundamental objective of the SVCC High School Career Coach Program is to empower students to make informed decisions about their career and educational plans and to prepare students for success in postsecondary education and training. The career coaches bring college to high schools!

From July 1 through October 31 Southside Virginia Community College Career Coaches served 3,677 students with establishing academic and career plans, post secondary plans, and college application assistance.

Meet the SVCC Career Coaches!

Tina Maxey

Buckingham County HS

Fuqua High School

Homeschool Co-Op

Kenston Forest High School

Rhonda Adams

Prince Edward High School

Melissa Colbert

Central High School

Juanda Deloatch

Greensville High School

Ernestine Sharpe

Cumberland High School

Krisha Jones

Brunswick High School

Brunswick Academy

Elizabeth Ford

Amelia County High School

Bernadine Johnson

Mecklenburg County HS

Nottoway High School

Tammy Wiley

Halifax County High School

Randolph-Henry High School

Brunswick High School Senior, Cameren Green with Krisha Jones, SVCC Career Coach, during Virginia College Application Week.

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia partners with the Office of the Secretary of Education, the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia, and national education non-profit ECMC to coordinate Virginia College Application Week.  

October 24 - 28 was a busy week for Southside Virginia Community College's (SVCC) career coaches. 

The Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV) hosted their annual homeschool college and career fair convention June 9, 2023 and June 10, 2023 in the Richmond Convention Center. Homeschool educators were given the opportunity to collaborate with other parents of home-schooled students. A multiplicity of vendors had booths set up to display and sell instructional tools, educational packets, textbooks, and many other items. Multiple colleges across Virginia had tables set up to share information about their individual institutions. Southside Virginia Community College had a presence at the event with Career Coach Tina Maxey. Ms. Maxey was able to meet and greet potential students, offer information about SVCC, and share college swag to anyone passing through. Over 10,000 Homeschool students, parents, teachers and relatives were in attendance. A unique experience arose when a former SVCC student approached the table and shared her experience of attending SVCC where she gained knowledge and encouragement. She is now continuing her career with service in our armed forces. 

On Thursday, October 19th, Randolph-Henry High School welcomed elementary students from several schools in Charlotte County for their annual Charlotte County Public Schools Book Festival. Tim Young was the guest speaker along with many literary stations set up across the school. Tammy Wiley, Randolph-Henry High School Career Coach, participated in the event teaching students the (Super) power of reading. Mrs. Wiley read to a group of kindergarteners and 3rd graders. Pictured below are Tammy Wiley, SVCC Career Coach, and kindergarten students from Bacon District Elementary, Catherine Vaughan & Willow Willis. It was a highly-anticipated educational event for all!

Recently, the SVCC Occupational Technical Center was a hub of activity.  Students from high schools across the college service area, along with high school counselors and career coaches, spent the day listening to presentations from instructors and industry representatives on what a day would be like for those in the truck driving, diesel technician and power line worker fields.