Tesha Arrington and Jerry Newsome graduated from Laurel High School in 1998, and three years ago returned to their alma mater to serve as Career & Technical Education instructors. While attending Laurel High School, both participated in career and technical education programs.
After high school, Arrington majored in biology at Tougaloo College and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi, and worked in healthcare as a nurse before returning to Laurel High School as the Health Sciences Instructor.
“As I see each student enter my classroom, I reflect on the days when I was in their very shoes,” Arrington said. “It makes me proud to know that I can impact their lives in the same manner my most remarkable educators impacted mine.”
Newsome graduated from Jones College with a degree in culinary arts and attended Alcorn State University and Morris Brown College. Newsome's love for food, through the influence of his grandparents, led him to pursue training as a chef, and he now serves as the Culinary Arts Instructor.
“There is nothing like being able to give back to the community you grew up in,” Newsome said. “That’s truly the best part.”
Both instructors work daily to assist students in finding their own career pathways and find great joy in helping students succeed in high school and beyond.