Career Coaches

Krisha Jones SVCC Brunswick High School Career Coach. Krisha is a graduate of BHS! She is in her 9th year as the BHS Career Coach and enjoys helping students to reach their full potential. One of her favorite quotes is from an unknown author and she is quick to share it with her students, “Don’t be disappointed with the results you don’t get from the work you didn’t do.”

Henry “Buck” Brockwell SVCC Greensville County High School Career Coach. No stranger to education, Buck’s career path has included being a Work Cooperative Teacher as well as Director of Vocational Education. He uses a series of You-Tube presentations emphasizing ethics, apprenticeship, STEM-H, retail of the future, do rich and poor people think differently, cool inventions and famous people’s success stories to communicate with students and talk about career plans. According to Buck, “When a student makes informed decisions, I feel they are preparing for the future.” He is a fan of this Bill Gates quote, “Life is not fair; get used to it.”

Mona Rainey SVCC Bluestone High School Career Coach. A retired middle school principal, Mona began her career coach track in February of 2012. Mona’s student centered focus is a real asset for her. Career coaching allows her to play a role in providing support and guidance to enhance student’s individual potential. She feels that with the combined efforts of parents, administrators, counselors and teachers, students will become responsible citizens who are prepared to enter career pathways of their choice in this changing world.

Kay Nichols SVCC Park View High School Career Coach. In her second year as a career coach, Kay says, “It is no longer appropriate to give children the idea they can do whatever they want when they grow up. They need to learn the real career opportunities and how to be active participants. Our nation’s economy depends on these students to be prepared for jobs.” As a career coach, Kay meets one-on-one with students to create career interest inventories and works with each student on a pathway to their career.

Rhonda Adams SVCC Prince Edward County High School Career Coach. Rhonda has previous work experience in financial aid and college admissions. This background is a big plus for her duties as a career coach. Transition from high school to college, workforce training, or employment is challenging for students. As career coach, Rhonda provides the support students need to meet these challenges. With over 8 years’ experience as a career coach she now enjoys seeing the fruits of her labor as former students complete their education and enter their careers. One of Rhonda’s favorite quotes from an unknown author she shares with students is “If you never try, you’ll never know.”

Karl Staten SVCC Halifax County High School Career Coach. Karl, a graduate of Halifax County High School, works with students to develop a realistic plan of action to encourage success after high school. He is a resource for information regarding college admissions, financial aid, scholarships, dual enrollment and all career/academic related events.

Tina Maxey SVCC Buckingham County High School Career Coach. Tina not only is the career coach at Buckingham, but she is a graduate! In her 11th year as a career coach, she is involved in community organizations such as the Dillwyn Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and enjoys working with students. Tina works closely with school counselors and the college advisor to assist seniors with the daunting task of the college admissions process.

Melissa Colbert SVCC Central of Lunenburg High School Career Coach. Melissa shares her favorite quote by Maya Angelou, “Nothing will work unless you do.” As a business owner in Southside Virginia for 22 years, Melissa Colbert knows first-hand the importance of having a skilled and trained workforce. She knows the value of education and the challenges students face if they don’t have a clear pathway. Without support of school counselors, administrators, teachers and career coaches, the majority of students will graduate with IDK (I Don’t Know). She has been a career coach for 8 years.

Angela Pulliam-Jones SVCC Amelia County High School Career Coach. Angela has tons of “people” experience. She has been working in the human services field for 20 years and higher education for five years. She enjoys the role of working with 9th through 12th graders to explore careers and career pathways. Angela’s primary focus is assisting seniors as they transition from high school to postsecondary education, military, workforce training, apprenticeship or employment. Angela shares one of her favorite quotes by an unknown author, “Failure doesn’t mean the game is over, it means try again with experience.”

Kate E. Locke Tharpe SVCC Randolph-Henry High School and Nottoway County High School Career Coach. Kate E. is a graduate of Randolph-Henry High School and has been a career coach for four years. Kate E. works closely with school counselors and the college advisor to ensure every senior has a clear pathway prior to graduation. She is a great student advocate and a resource for financial aid and SVCC Scholarships. Kate E. shares her favorite quote from Dr. Seuss, “You’re off to great places, Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, S0…get on your way!"

Earnestine Robertson Sharpe SVCC Cumberland County High School Career Coach. Earnestine has over 35 years of experience in providing educational and work opportunities for students. Her experience includes teacher/counselor, Education Coordinator in the Richmond Community Action ABE/GED program and Project Discovery’s Program Director for STEPS Community Action Agency. Her goal is to work with students at Cumberland to increase the number who enter postsecondary education and/or workforce training programs to enable them to prepare for success.