Velma Jackson High School students gain career insights through virtual guest speakers

Teacher Greg Pigott pivoted to online programming during the pandemic to expose students to diverse career paths

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:27pm

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An abstract, out-of-focus scene depicting the soft, warm glow of a high school classroom, with blurred figures of students and a teacher engaged in a virtual presentation, conveying the concept of career-focused education during the pandemic.The virtual guest speaker program at Velma Jackson High School has helped students gain valuable career insights and feel more prepared for life after graduation.Jackson Today

As the school year comes to a close, students at Velma Jackson High School in Camden, Mississippi are thanking their teacher Greg Pigott for providing them with valuable real-world career advice and exposure to professionals from various industries. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pigott organized a series of virtual guest speaker sessions to help prepare his students for life after graduation, despite the challenges of remote learning. Students say they now feel more informed and ready to pursue their post-high school plans.

Why it matters

The virtual guest speaker program at Velma Jackson High School highlights the innovative ways educators adapted to engage students and provide meaningful career exploration opportunities during the disruptions of the pandemic. By connecting students with professionals across different fields, the program aims to better prepare them for the transition to college or the workforce.

The details

When COVID-19 restrictions limited in-person guest speaker events, teacher Greg Pigott got creative and shifted the program to a virtual format. He called on professionals from a variety of industries to speak to his students about their career paths and the options available to them after graduation. Students say the conversations have helped them feel more informed and ready to take the next steps, whether that's attending college or entering the workforce.

  • At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pigott launched the virtual guest speaker program.

The players

Greg Pigott

A teacher at Velma Jackson High School in Camden, Mississippi who organized a virtual guest speaker program to expose his students to diverse career paths during the pandemic.

Kendrick Lindsey

A senior at Velma Jackson High School who says the virtual guest speaker program has helped him feel more prepared for his plans to attend Hinds Community College and pursue a specific field of study.

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What they’re saying

“We were trying to do something different to have a different classroom experience here at Velma Jackson but with the pandemic, we had to have covid restrictions that changed that, so what we did was come up with a way to continue guest speakers through a virtual standpoint.”

— Greg Pigott, Teacher

“I'm going to Hinds and I'm majoring in a field that I'm trying to prepare for, and I have a little more information on about my classes and stuff now I'm ready to face life.”

— Kendrick Lindsey, Senior

What’s next

Pigott plans to continue the virtual guest speaker program even as COVID-19 restrictions loosen, as the initiative has been well-received by students across the district.

The takeaway

The virtual guest speaker program at Velma Jackson High School demonstrates the innovative ways educators can leverage technology to provide meaningful career exploration opportunities for students, even during times of disruption. By connecting students with professionals across diverse industries, the program helps prepare them for the transition to college or the workforce.