(https://gmpg.org/xfn/11) (https://fonts.googleapis.com) (https://fonts.gstatic.com) (../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Oswald%253Awght@200..700&display=swap.css) (../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Oswald%253Awght@200..700&display=swap.css)  (../../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Noto+Sans%253A300,400,400i,700%257CNoto+Serif%253A400,700%257COpen+Sans%253A300,300i,400,400i,500,700&display=swap.css) (../../../cdn.jsdelivr.net/jquery.slick/1.6.0/slick-theme.css) (../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/7.0.0/css/all.min.css) (../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/7.0.0/css/all.min.css)   Education: Columbus High graduates continue their legacy in CMSD classrooms - The Dispatch  (index.html)               (https://static.addtoany.com/)  (https://e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/)  (https://e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/)  (The Dispatch » Feed) (https://cdispatch.com/feed/)  (The Dispatch » iCal Feed) (https://cdispatch.com/events/?ical=1)  (../../wp-content/plugins/leaky-paywall/css/lp-list-builder.css@ver=5.1.9.css)  (../../wp-content/plugins/leaky-paywall/css/issuem-leaky-paywall.css@ver=5.1.9.css)  (../../wp-content/plugins/leaky-paywall-trials/css/style.css@ver=1.9.6.css)  (../../wp-content/themes/commercial_dispatch_v3/css/theme.min.css@ver=.1767201025.css)  (../../wp-content/themes/commercial_dispatch_v3/css/style.css@ver=1788273202.css)  (../../wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/addtoany.min.css@ver=1.16.css)  (https://cdispatch.com/wp-json/tribe/events/v1/)  (../../../e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-dispatch-red-d-logo-2.png@strip=all&resize=32,32)  (../../../e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-dispatch-red-d-logo-2.png@strip=all&resize=192,192)  (https://e4sh3cjh5t7.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-dispatch-red-d-logo-2.png?strip=all&resize=180%2C180)      (index.html#content) Skip to content (Site search)  (index.html#) Sections    (https://cdispatch.com/obituaries/) Obituaries  (https://cdispatch.com/eedition/) eEdition  (https://ads.cdispatch.com) Classifieds  (https://cdispatch.com/events/) Events  (https://donate.cdispatch.com) Donate     (https://cdispatch.com/) (Dispatch Mobile Logo)   (https://cdispatch.com/subscribe/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=offer_button&utm_content=top) Subscribe  (https://cdispatch.com/login-page) Login      (search...)    September 18, 2026     QUICK LINKS (https://cdispatch.com/obituaries/) Obituaries  (https://cdispatch.com/eedition/) eEdition  (https://ads.cdispatch.com) Classifieds  (https://cdispatch.com/events/) Events  (https://donate.cdispatch.com) Donate   (https://cdispatch.com/news/) News  (https://cdispatch.com/news/columbus-lowndes-county/) Columbus & Lowndes County  (https://cdispatch.com/news/starkville-oktibbeha-county/) Starkville & Oktibbeha County  (https://cdispatch.com/news/west-point-clay-county/) West Point & Clay County  (https://cdispatch.com/news/area/) Area  (https://cdispatch.com/news/state/) State  (https://cdispatch.com/news/national/) National  (https://cdispatch.com/news/business/) Business   (https://cdispatch.com/sports/) Sports  (https://cdispatch.com/sports/high-school-sports/) High School Sports  (https://cdispatch.com/sports/college-sports/) College Sports  (https://cdispatch.com/sports/local-columns-sports/) Local Columns   (https://cdispatch.com/eedition/) eEdition   (https://cdispatch.com/events/) Events   (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/) Opinions  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/local-columns/) Local Columns  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/letters-to-the-editor/) Letters to the Editor  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/roses-thorns/) Roses & Thorns  (https://cdispatch.com/opinions/dispatch-editorials/) Dispatch Editorials   (https://cdispatch.com/obituaries/) Obituaries   (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/) Lifestyles  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/columns-lifestyle/) Columns  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/entertainment/) Entertainment  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/food/) Food  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/transitions-announcements/) Transitions & Announcements  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/community/) Community  (https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/religion/) Religion   (http://ads.cdispatch.com/) Classifieds   (https://cdispatch.com/gallery/) Photo Galleries   (https://cdispatch.com/public-records/) Public Records  (https://cdispatch.com/public-records/building-permits/) Building Permits  (https://cdispatch.com/public-records/marriages-divorces/) Marriages & Divorces   (https://cdispatch.com/subscriber-profile/) My Account        September 18, 2026   (https://cdispatch.com/) (Dispatch Logo) Open eyes, open minds.     Serving Columbus & Starkville, Mississippi        (https://cdstg1922.wpenginepowered.com/) Home  » (https://cdstg1922.wpenginepowered.com/news/) News  » Education: Columbus High graduates continue their legacy in CMSD classrooms   (https://cdispatch.com/news/columbus-lowndes-county/) Columbus & Lowndes County   Education: Columbus High graduates continue their legacy in CMSD classrooms By Joey Barnes/Columbus Municipal School District • 16 hours ago  • 3 mins to read     COLUMBUS – Each graduating class at Columbus High School believes in the legacy they leave behind. However, for the Class of 2021 and 2022, their legacy is continuing by educating a new generation of students. Zachariah Harden, Gregory Harper and Alexia Valdez are all first-year educators in the Columbus Municipal School District and CHS graduates. Harden is at his alma mater teaching music. Harper also teaches music at Hunt Intermediate School, and Valdez is an assistant teacher at Stokes-Beard Elementary School. “Music has always been a very important part of my life since I was an infant,” Harden said. (https://cdispatch.com/news/education-columbus-high-graduates-continue-their-legacy-in-cmsd-classrooms/attachment/edu-cmsd-zachariah-harden/) ()    Zachariah Harden    “I was always involved in music at Columbus High and Jackson State,” Harper said. “So being here at Hunt is a little surreal. I never went here. However, Mrs. (Monte) Ewing was my teacher. Now, she’s my principal.” (https://cdispatch.com/news/education-columbus-high-graduates-continue-their-legacy-in-cmsd-classrooms/attachment/edu-cmsd-gregory-harper/) ()    Gregory Harper    “I participated in McKellar Technology Center’s Early Childhood Education program, and knew I wanted to do something with children,” Valdez said. “I would not have chosen this career path if not for that experience.” (https://cdispatch.com/news/education-columbus-high-graduates-continue-their-legacy-in-cmsd-classrooms/attachment/edu-cmsd-alexia-valdez/) ()    Alexia Valdez    Each of the alumni has walked their own path to get to this point in their career, but the seeds were planted in high school. Now they are learning the work that goes into each lesson and how to work with students to help bolster academic success. “I have to pace myself and slow down to ensure all the students understand,” Harden said. “It’s all about meeting them where they are. I was very involved here (at CHS), so many of my former teachers know me. They’ve been so helpful and giving me tips as a first-year teacher.” The first-year teachers remember what it is like to be a student, and they show how to continue growing and learning after graduation. “I want students to know that music can be their form of expression,” Harper said. “Really, the arts can… drawing or singing can be a form of expression. This is a skill they can use for the rest of their lives.” Harden plans to get his master’s degree. Valdez will graduate from Mississippi State University next year to become a teacher. “I didn’t realize the work that goes into the job behind the scenes,” Valdez said. “It can be intense. I work with students who need extra help or time. I also assist our two (English learner) students in class. I speak Spanish, and so do they. So, that’s helpful. But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Seeing the students grow and meet benchmarks after you put in the effort and energy is worth it.” (https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/copy_link?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcdispatch.com%2Fnews%2Feducation-columbus-high-graduates-continue-their-legacy-in-cmsd-classrooms%2F&linkname=Education%3A%20Columbus%20High%20graduates%20continue%20their%20legacy%20in%20CMSD%20classrooms) (Copy Link)  (https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcdispatch.com%2Fnews%2Feducation-columbus-high-graduates-continue-their-legacy-in-cmsd-classrooms%2F&linkname=Education%3A%20Columbus%20High%20graduates%20continue%20their%20legacy%20in%20CMSD%20classrooms) (Email)  (https://www.addtoany.com/share)      You can help your community Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.   (https://cdispatch.com/subscribe/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=offer_button&utm_content=below-article-cta) Subscribe     READER FAVORITES (https://cdispatch.com/news/corrected-cfo-mistakes-improve-city-budget-by-1-6m/) (Corrected CFO mistakes improve city budget by $1.6M) (Corrected CFO mistakes improve city budget by $1.6M)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/corrected-cfo-mistakes-improve-city-budget-by-1-6m/) (Corrected CFO mistakes improve city budget by $1.6M) Corrected CFO mistakes improve city budget by $1.6M  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/zack-plair/) Zack Plair  • 2 days ago    (https://cdispatch.com/news/councilmans-tirade-over-trotter-usage-gets-ugly/) (Councilman’s tirade over Trotter usage gets ugly) (Councilman’s tirade over Trotter usage gets ugly)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/councilmans-tirade-over-trotter-usage-gets-ugly/) (Councilman’s tirade over Trotter usage gets ugly) Councilman’s tirade over Trotter usage gets ugly  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/zack-plair/) Zack Plair  • 16 hours ago    (https://cdispatch.com/news/commercial-waste-rates-to-rise-in-starkville/) (Commercial waste rates to rise in Starkville) (Commercial waste rates to rise in Starkville)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/commercial-waste-rates-to-rise-in-starkville/) (Commercial waste rates to rise in Starkville) Commercial waste rates to rise in Starkville  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/pgreencdispatch-com/) Paloma Green  • 2 days ago    (https://cdispatch.com/news/arson-suspected-at-old-sanderson-plumbing-building/) (Arson suspected at old Sanderson Plumbing building) (Arson suspected at old Sanderson Plumbing building)    (https://cdispatch.com/news/arson-suspected-at-old-sanderson-plumbing-building/) (Arson suspected at old Sanderson Plumbing building) Arson suspected at old Sanderson Plumbing building  By (https://cdispatch.com/author/pgreencdispatch-com/) Paloma Green  • 2 days ago              (https://cdispatch.com/popular-content/) Popular  (https://cdispatch.com/news/16-students-injured-in-highway-45-bus-crash/) 16 students injured in Highway 45 bus crash  September 15, 2026     (https://cdispatch.com/news/mary-means-business-aldi-sets-target-of-2027-to-open-in-columbus/) Mary Means Business: Aldi sets target of 2027 to open in Columbus  September 17, 2026     (https://cdispatch.com/news/corrected-cfo-mistakes-improve-city-budget-by-1-6m/) Corrected CFO mistakes improve city budget by $1.6M  September 16, 2026     (https://cdispatch.com/news/councilmans-tirade-over-trotter-usage-gets-ugly/) Councilman’s tirade over Trotter usage gets ugly  September 17, 2026         On This Day in 2025  (https://cdispatch.com/sports/perry-murillo-strike-as-bulldogs-take-horns-down-in-austin/) (Perry, Murillo strike as Bulldogs take Horns down in Austin)    (https://cdispatch.com/sports/perry-murillo-strike-as-bulldogs-take-horns-down-in-austin/) Perry, Murillo strike as Bulldogs take Horns down in Austin  September 18, 2025 By Colin Damms          Featured Podcasts  (https://www.buzzsprout.com/645052) (The C Dispatch Podcast)   (https://cdstg1922.wpenginepowered.com/podcast/) (Between The Headlines Podcast)        (https://cdispatch.com/) (The Dispatch)   Serving Columbus & Starkville, Mississippi. (https://www.facebook.com/TheDispatch/)   (https://www.instagram.com/cdispatch/)   (https://x.com/cdispatch)    (https://cdispatch.com/about/) About  (https://cdispatch.com/tips/) Submit a Tip    Newsletter Our headlines, delivered to your inbox. Sign up for Morning Shot , our flagship daily briefing of the day's news.  (1)  Email address (you@example.com)  Sign up  ()   (https://cdispatch.com/newsletters/) See all newsletters → Free. Unsubscribe anytime.       Info (https://ads.cdispatch.com) Classifieds  (https://progressmag.com) Progress Magazine  (https://lowndesil.org) Free Books for Kids  (https://donate.cdispatch.com) Donate for Journalism     Contact (tel:6623282424) (662) 328-2424  Newsroom 516 Main Street Columbus, MS 39701 Mailing PO Box 511 Columbus, MS 39703       Copyright © 2026 Commercial Dispatch Publishing Co., Inc.  (https://cdispatch.com/terms/) Terms (https://cdispatch.com/privacy/) Privacy       Unlock this article. Just sign in. Have an account? Sign in. New here? Get more access in seconds. Email Address () (Enter your email)    Continue  Yes! I would like to receive content in my inbox.       Keep reading - subscribe today You're one step away from unlimited access to the most in-depth Golden Triangle reporting available. (https://cdispatch.com/subscribe/) Get Unlimited Access      (index.html#top) (ToTop)