Schools across three counties in North Mississippi are being awarded $1 million to enhance education.
The Toyota Wellspring Education Fund at the CREATE Foundation will award educational grants to school districts in Pontotoc, Union, and Lee counties. This money will expand learning opportunities and strengthen students’ educational experiences.
Among the expanded opportunities are educational initiatives like aviation and aerospace, literacy, career and technical education, and partnerships with community colleges. While the projects being funded by these grants vary from district to district, they all share the goal of enhancing education through opportunities for students to learn and make connections for their future.
“These grants give districts the opportunity to expand what learning can look like for students,” said Kristy Luse, vice president of Toyota Wellspring Education Fund. “Educational enhancement can mean many things — from strengthening literacy to introducing students to aviation, providing hands-on career and technical education experiences, creating internships or connecting students with community colleges. The common goal is to give students richer experiences that help them understand what they can do and where their education can take them.”
The initiatives include:
Pontotoc County School District: Think • Read • Lead • Create
This Pontotoc County School District initiative provides a framework to prepare students for future careers before they reach high school. This K-12 model addresses career readiness earlier to better shape students’ interests and skills.
Tupelo Public School District: Wave to Wings Aviation and Aerospace Pipeline
As the name suggests, the initiative will introduce students to careers in piloted aviation, unmanned aircraft systems, and aviation maintenance. Under a new Aviation Career Pathway, the model will expand student exposure to aviation and aerospace education and career opportunities.
Pontotoc City Schools: Pontotoc Pathways: PreK-Careers
Beginning in 2027, Pontotoc schools will build on existing resources from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade to help students explore career paths, develop life and workplace skills, and prepare for postsecondary education, military service, or employment.
Baldwyn High School: Bearcat TV
This school-owned media will allow students to garner experience in broadcasting, communications, photography, video, and journalism. Additionally, students will have access to internships, both paid and unpaid, job shadowing, and connections with postsecondary and industry partners.
Lee County School District: REALM
The Re-engage, Educate, Academics, Life/Workskills, Mentoring (REALM) initiative will provide up to 80 students access to industry credits through Itawamba Community College. The district will also provide educational or employment preparation to former students as well as career and technical experiences to current students.
New Albany School District: Bulldog Bridges
Through motivational guest speakers and engaging presentations, Bulldog Bridges will help build a connected community where every student can explore career possibilities, prepare for future success, and connect with meaningful career pathways that can lead to family-sustaining wages, long-term economic stability, and greater opportunities for lifelong success.
Union County School District: Career exploration resources
The Union County School District will introduce various careers to students in PreK-8 using fun, interactive methods. For pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, a Career Exploration Resource Room will provide students with a hands-on environment to explore careers through books, costumes, props, simulations, problem-solving activities, role-play, and guest speakers. Grades 6-8 will use an interactive online career exploration resource called Nucleus to help students narrow down possible career paths.
