Billy J. Carroll CTE Leadership

10/09/2026

CTE Leadership is more than managing programs! It’s connecting the dots between opportunity, instruction, outcomes, and the story we tell about our students!

This week was a great reminder of that.

I spent time reviewing data and preparing to communicate the impact of our CTE programs, including student certification, WorkKeys, dual credit, work-based learning, placement, and end-of-course outcomes. At the same time, I had the opportunity to see what those numbers actually represent.

They represent Welding students learning fabrication skills and working with industry-standard equipment.

They represent Culinary Arts students developing their craft in the kitchen.

They represent Work-Based Learning students learning how to create custom T-shirts and gaining another practical skill they can take with them beyond high school.

That is one of the things I love most about Career & Technical Education. The data matters, but behind every number is a student learning how to do something they couldn’t do before.

As CTE leaders, our responsibility is to create the opportunities, support the teachers, remove barriers, build partnerships, measure the results, and then make sure people understand the value of the work.

That’s CTE! That’s workforce development. And most importantly, that’s opportunity for students.

10/08/2026

10/01/2026

Another month, another reminder of why I believe so strongly in Career & Technical Education.

Our October edition of Tech Times highlights students learning beyond the classroom through career exploration, industry and community partnerships, service, and hands-on experiences. From our College, Career, & Military Fair to real-world hospitality experiences and community outreach, our students are getting opportunities to connect learning with life after high school.

As CTE leaders, one of our greatest responsibilities is creating opportunities for students to see what is possible and then giving them the skills, experiences, and connections to pursue it.
Proud of our students, our instructors, and the partners who continue to invest in the work!

09/25/2026

One of the most important things we can do as CTE leaders is make sure students are exposed to what comes next.

Yesterday, we hosted our College, Career, & Military Fair, giving students the opportunity to talk directly with colleges, universities, military representatives, employers, public service agencies, and workforce partners.

I loved seeing our students asking questions, gathering information, and exploring possibilities for their futures.

Career readiness isn’t about pushing every student toward the same destination. It’s about helping each student understand the options available to them and giving them the information, experiences, and confidence to choose a path that fits their goals.

College. Career. Military. Certification. Workforce.

There are many pathways to success, and our responsibility is to make sure students know those pathways exist.

Thank you to every organization and community partner who took the time to invest in our students today. Partnerships like these are what make CTE work.

09/22/2026

When people see a successful CTE program, they usually see the end result. They see students earning industry certifications. They see students gaining college credit.

They see competitions, awards, new equipment, job opportunities, and graduates moving into successful careers. What they don’t always see is everything that has to happen behind the scenes.

CTE leadership means continually asking:

Does this program still meet the needs of our students and our workforce? Are we teaching skills employers actually need? Are our students leaving with credentials that have value? Are we creating opportunities that lead somewhere after graduation? Do our instructors have the equipment, training, and support they need to succeed?

Strong CTE programs don’t happen by accident.

They require great instructors, supportive administrators, industry partners, community involvement, resources, planning, and a willingness to keep improving.

The student walking across the stage with a credential in hand is the part everyone gets to see. The work that made that moment possible started long before graduation day.

09/18/2026

Who says reviewing medical terminology has to be boring?

Our Health Science students put a fun twist on learning with a game of Medical Terminology Musical Chairs!

Students are reviewing important medical terms, staying engaged, and having a little fun along the way. At the Moss Point Career & Technical Education Center, we believe learning can be meaningful and memorable!

Hands-on. Engaging. Career-focused. At the CTE, we make learning FUN!

09/16/2026

CTE is about more than learning a skill. It’s about learning to think like a professional.

Today, our Health Science students were identifying workplace hazards and discussing how those hazards can impact employees, patients, and the overall work environment.

At first glance, it may look like a simple classroom activity. But this is exactly what Career & Technical Education is designed to do; give students opportunities to apply what they are learning to situations they will encounter in the real world.

We are preparing students to enter the workforce knowing how to think critically, recognize problems, work safely, communicate effectively, and make responsible decisions.

That’s the value of CTE.

We aren’t just preparing students to graduate.

We’re preparing them for what comes next!

09/11/2026

One part of CTE leadership that often happens behind the scenes is finding opportunities that can open more doors for students.

Today, I spent time working on a grant application focused on expanding hands-on STEM learning and helping students build skills connected to advanced manufacturing, engineering, technology, and other high-demand careers.

Grant writing may not be the most visible part of the job, but every application represents another opportunity to bring resources into our classrooms, reduce barriers for students, and give them experiences that prepare them for what comes next.

For me, that’s what CTE leadership is about: creating opportunities today that can change a student’s tomorrow.

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09/09/2026

Last night, I had the opportunity to recognize some of the great work happening in Career & Technical Education.

We celebrated our CTE instructors for their outstanding results on national industry certification exams and recognized our Business, Marketing & Finance and Welding programs for earning #1 rankings in Mississippi.

Those accomplishments deserve to be celebrated, but none of them happen because of one person. It really does take a village.

Teachers put in the work every day. Students accept the challenge. Counselors help students find the right pathway. Administrators provide support. Parents encourage their children. Industry and community partners open doors and provide opportunities.

As a leader, I believe one of our responsibilities is to make sure the people doing the work know that their work matters. The certificates and rankings are great, but the real win is seeing what can happen when a group of people works together for students.

Celebrate the results! Appreciate the people who made them possible!

09/04/2026

Let’s wrap up the week by recognizing another former Moss Point student who is continuing to build his future!

Jon Tae McCall, MPHS Class of 2020, took Engineering at the Moss Point Career and Technical Education Center while in high school. He says his high school experience helped prepare him for college in several ways, from earning AP credit that kept him from taking additional courses to learning about scholarship opportunities along the way.

Today, Jon Tae is a graduate student at Morgan State University while also serving as an officer in the Army Reserves.

He has earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a minor in Military Science from The University of Mississippi - Ole Miss and is currently working toward his master’s degree in Architecture. During the 2026–2027 school year, he’ll also serve as a graduate assistant.

And he already has his eyes on what comes next.

Jon Tae plans to work with an architecture firm, gain experience, and eventually open a studio of his own. He also wants to give back by mentoring others along the way.

I love seeing where our former CTE students go after high school. Their paths may look different, but those early experiences can help build the confidence, work ethic, and foundation they carry with them into college, careers, and beyond!

Jon Tae, keep going. There’s a lot more ahead!