WELCOME TO LONG BEACH HIGH SCHOOL
Justin Sutton , Principal
Mrs. Rebeccah Ladner, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Lindsey Todd, Assistant Principal
Long Beach High School 300 East Old Pass Road Long Beach, MS 39560 Phone: (228)863-6945 Fax: (228) 864-8961
LBHS Announces 24-25 STAR Student and Teacher
Long Beach High School senior Jose Antonio Garcia III has earned the distinction of being named the 2024-2025 LBHS STAR Student and has selected Dr. Scott Shull as his STAR Teacher.
Garcia is the son of Stacey and Jose Garcia. After high school, Garcia plans to attend college and major in computer science. With this degree, he aims to work as a software engineer. His long-term goal is to live a comfortable life inspiring others.
“I want to travel and run some of the world marathon majors,” Garcia said. “More specifically I want to race in the Tokyo marathon. I want to continue deepening my relationship with Christ and become involved within a church in whichever area I end up living in. My ultimate goal, however, is to live a happy life and wake up every morning seeking to inspire others.”
When asked how Long Beach prepared him for the future, Garcia said LBHS presented an excellent academic curriculum which allowed him to explore his interests and challenged him.
“The teachers created a great environment that promoted learning and made me feel valued. I also wanted to give a special thanks to Mrs. Tucker in the Career Center for always connecting me with rewarding scholarships that will help me afford to attend college.”
Garcia selected Dr. Scott Shull as his STAR Teacher.
“Dr. Shull is an amazing and talented individual who has put nothing but his utmost effort into creating a positive and amazing environment for all students. He genuinely cares about the welfare of his students and the school system. I first experienced this on a bus ride back from a cross-country meet where he helped me study for a chemistry topic I was just starting to learn.”
“One notable attribute made me choose Dr. Shull as my STAR Teacher. He continually pushed me to achieve more.”
Garcia vividly recounts telling Dr. Shull he had scored a 29 on his ACT and Shull telling him “Not good enough”.
“While others would have simply congratulated me, and told me it was a good score, Dr. Shull knew I had not yet reached my potential. He knew that I still had a lot more to give and did not let me settle for anything less than the best. If it was not for him, I would not have this award.”
Shull is honored to be chosen as this year’s STAR Teacher by Garcia whom he first met as an unassuming 10th grade student on the track team.
“He wasn’t flashy, not one for self-aggrandizement, but certainly a student with a silent strength and measured resilience,” Shull said.
“Little did I know what this unassuming young man held such a vast repository of knowledge, character, and determination, the likes of which surface infrequently in any generation of students.”
Through the years, Shull has watched Garcia rack up accolades both on the track and in the classroom.
“His prodigious depth of learning is always coupled with his kindness and mentorship to his fellow students and athletes.”
Dr. Shull moved to Long Beach more than 30 years ago when his family chose the Long Beach School District because of its high caliber school system. Committed to education, his parents felt that making Long Beach home would be an investment in his future. He returned to his hometown and worked for the school district for a short time as his first job out of college. Years later, he returned to the district to teach, or as he says, to “Pay it forward” to a new generation of Long Beach students.
The Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) M. B. Swayze Foundation sponsors the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program. Established by the Mississippi Economic Council in 1965, the purpose of the STAR program is to recognize outstanding students & teachers in Mississippi through its Education Celebration.
Congratulations Coach Finley
Long Beach School District is proud to announce Cody Finley as the new Head Football Coach for the Bearcats. Finley has been an integral part of the Bearcats' coaching staff, serving as the Offensive Line Coach since the 2022-2023 season.
Finley brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to his new role. Prior to joining Long Beach High School, Finley served as the Head Football Coach at Gibson County High School in Dyer, TN, from 2016 to 2022. During his tenure at Gibson County, Finley led the team to a 24-35 record. Notably, he transformed a program that had only four winning seasons in 42 years, achieving back-to-back winning seasons and playoff appearances in 2018 and 2019.
Before his time at Gibson County, Finley was the Head Coach at Stewart County from 2013 to 2016 and Cheatham County from 2002 to 2012. His leadership at Cheatham County was particularly distinguished, as he guided the team to the Region 6AAA Championship and State playoff quarterfinals in 2012. Finley’s team made the state playoffs 9 of 11 years. He was honored as the Region 6AAA Coach of the Year in both 2005 and 2012.
Superintendent Dr. Talia Lock looks forward to the Bearcats growing their program under Finley’s leadership.
"We are thrilled to have Cody Finley step into the role of Head Football Coach," Lock said. "His dedication, expertise, and ability to inspire and lead our student-athletes make him the perfect fit for our program. We look forward to the continued growth and success of Bearcat football under his leadership. We are confident that Coach Finley will inspire our student-athletes to achieve great success both on and off the field."
Athletic Director Shane Rutledge is excited to welcome Coach Cody Finley as the new head football coach at Long Beach High School.
"Coach Finley brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of building successful programs while fostering positive relationships with student-athletes. His dedication to both athletic achievement and academic success aligns perfectly with our school's values. With his extensive background in coaching, teaching, and mentoring, we are confident that Coach Finley will inspire our student-athletes and lead our football program to new heights. We are eager to see the positive impact he will have on our students, our team, and our community," Rutledge said.
Finley is eager to begin his new position leading the Bearcats.
“I am very excited about being named Head Football Coach at Long Beach High School. As a member of the previous staff, I already have a relationship with the current players which should allow for a smooth transition. The only way to get better as a football team is to outwork your opponents and teach your players the skills necessary to compete. I look forward to building on the culture already set by Coach Massey and taking our program to the next level. I believe we can have a successful winning program at LBHS. We are going to develop a program that will make our fans, faculty, and community proud."
Finley was raised in Yorkville, TN and is married to JonAnn Finley.
The Long Beach community eagerly anticipates the upcoming football season and the positive impact Coach Finley will have on the Bearcats' program.
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December Star Students
Samuel Martin
Madalyn Winsworth
Aliza Shaw
Luke Skrmetta
January Star Students
Madelyn Jenkins
Asher Stewart
Bryce Flowers
Six Long Beach High School Seniors Named Presidential Scholarship Candidates
Long Beach, MS – Long Beach High School (LBHS) is proud to announce that six (6) LBHS seniors have been named Presidential Scholar Candidates. This number puts LBHS at the top on the Coast with only one other public high school in the state beating Long Beach with a total of seven (7) candidates.
LBHS Seniors Jose “Tony” Garcia, Abigail Glass, Alexis Griffith, Grace Lefort, Colton Muraco, and Marlie Rath have all been named to the 2025 Class of Presidential Scholarship Candidates.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students. The Scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people. In honoring the U.S. Presidential Scholars, the President of the United States symbolically honors all graduating high school seniors of high potential.
Application for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only. Students may not apply individually to the program, nor may their schools nominate them. Their invitations to this program are based on scoring exceptionally well on either the SAT or the ACT and being nominated by their Chief State School Officer (CSSO) or nominated by one of our partner recognition organizations based on outstanding scholarship.
The Long Beach School District extends heartfelt Congratulations to our six seniors for earning this prestigious recognition.
“I am thrilled to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of these students on being named Presidential Scholarship candidates,” said LBSD Superintendent Dr. Talia Lock.
“This prestigious recognition is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and exceptional academic achievements. They have demonstrated remarkable perseverance and a commitment to excellence that sets them apart. I hope as they continue on this exciting journey, they remember this honor is just the beginning and embrace the opportunities ahead with the same passion and determination that brought them here. They are wonderful examples of what makes Long Beach School District a System of Excellence.”