Noxubee County seniors graduate after year of challenges, changes

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – In just a few days, Noxubee County High School will graduate its first class since the governor declared a state of emergency for the school district.

The district faced numerous financial, personnel, and safety issues.

The new superintendent said in the short term, change can be scary, but it will make a big difference in the end.

Just before the 2018-2019 school year started, Noxubee County Schools experienced a major shakeup.

The district was taken over by the state, and the local school board and superintendent were replaced by state-appointed Interim Superintendent Rodriguez Broadnax.

Broadnax admitted the first year has been challenging, but he’s optimistic.

“There was a tightness in my stomach concerning the school budget and the academic progress of the district. Some days I will come to the computer and I won’t even know where to get started at. Moving forward, our financials are looking a lot better. Our student academic achievement is looking better,” said Broadnax.

This year’s seniors faced the most uncertainty. The school they had known their whole careers was changing.

But the class accepted that change as a challenge.

“Change can be scary sometimes but I’m very good at it. If the curriculum would have changed and it did a little bit, but I was not scared of that. I face things head-on even if I am scared and I accomplish my goals,” said valedictorian Jaykanze Bryant.

“It may seem hard during the time, but your mind has to be set on the end goal. At the end I will be the salutatorian of my class, at the end my GPA will be high, at the end I will be done with college. You have to look at the angle and not so much to struggle that you may be enduring at that moment,” said salutatorian Destiny Cooper.

Their hard work has paid off and now they are ready to begin a new journey.

As both girls leave for college, they also share words of encouragement for the students that will be back in August.

“Trusting in The Lord in knowing that He’s going to lead your path. And letting him come first, if you let him come first and everything else is going to fall into place,” said Bryant.

“Make sure your grades are perfect, not perfect, I make sure they’re good. Start off your ninth grade year with good grades so that when it comes to your 10th and 11th grade year you won’t be struggling to get a good GPA your 12th-grade year,” said Cooper.

For Broadnax, his first class has become like family.

“When I see my seniors go across the stage sometimes I have to hold back tears. To see this class, my first class, go through this process again with the state take over but to be successful as they have been made me very proud of the work they’ve done. One of the best days of my life as an educator is at graduation,” said Broadnax.

Noxubee County seniors will graduate this Friday night at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba at 7 p.m.