Neshoba Central building Innovation Lab

Instructor Sedera Anderson can’t wait to experience and to teach the new technology that’s coming with the Neshoba Central High School Innovation Lab this spring.

Anderson, who has been teaching at Neshoba Central for 20 years, said every day is a new challenge, and she is continuously learning along with her students as they are exposed to updated technology and ideas. 

The I-Lab, as it is known, will be located in the former ROTC facility on the east side of the campus between the main high school building and the agriculture building.

“These are wonderful students who are eager to learn, and I am eager to be right there with them as they do,” Anderson said. “This new lab is going to provide them with so many new opportunities.”

The I-Lab aims to design a space for students to study and practice welding, carpentry, engineering, physics, agriculture and digital media to collaborate on projects they are interested in creating. 

Along with the welding machines and blueprint printers that will be coming to the I-Lab, Anderson is looking forward to the 3D printers the lab will have as well, and what her students can do with them to improve life in the classroom. 

“The sky is the limit on what they can make,” Anderson said. “They can make things like tools, cups and more. The more we can get them exposed to new technology and get them national industry certified, the more job opportunities they’ll have.” 

Lundy Brantley, superintendent of the Neshoba County School District, said the overarching goal of the project is for students to bring an idea to life and use it in other classes to help accomplish the idea. 

“During the day, the lab will be similar to a science lab, except it is based on student ideas, and it will have welders, a machine that prints blueprints and more,” Brantley said. “The main purpose of it is teaching teamwork, as teamwork is essential and one of the attributes that employers look for in their employees.”

He said another purpose of the lab is workforce development training, which will happen in the evening after school hours, where students and adults alike can receive training in the areas of welding, sheet metal skills and more.

The Workforce Development Initiative focuses on skill attainment to obtain National Industry Certification, as well as employment with industries or college placement, he said. 

Brantley said the Neshoba County School District is partnered with the East Central Community College Workforce Development, and they also have a lab on the East Central campus with some different pieces of equipment. He said the NCSD is combining resources with them.

“National industry certification is our big thing,” he said. “It gives our kids a leg up. We had 33% out of seniors in the 2020 graduating class that completed one or more apprenticeships and internships when they were in high school.”

He said the district’s vision is to graduate students that are college career ready with more than just a high school diploma. 

Since the Neshoba County School District is partnered with the East Central Community College Workforce Development, they have the money to pay instructors, but also can get former students involved. 

“Say there’s a student that graduated from here, and a year later they realize they want to do something different for their career,” Brantley said. “They can come back here, and we can help them.”

Brantley plans on doing a ribbon-cutting when the lab is complete and ready to open in April, as this will be a huge occasion for the district.  

“There won’t be another lab in East Central Mississippi in a high school like this,” he said. “Especially with the capabilities to help train our kids and give them the opportunities they need.”