Principal's Corner
Lions' Administrators
Mr. Pettis is excited to be part of the Lion family. He has over 10 years of experience in the
Tunica County School District. During his tenure within the district Mr. Pettis has served as
teacher, coach, and assistant principal. He is a graduate of North Panola High School in Sardis,
MS. Mr. Pettis earned his Bachelor’s in Information Technology and Master’s in Secondary
Education from Alcorn State University. He later earned his Specialist’s in Educational
Leadership from The University of Mississippi and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in
Educational Leadership from The University of Mississippi.
When Mr. Pettis is not at school he enjoys spending time with his daughter Taylor, fishing, and
playing golf.
Assistant Principals
Kendrick Smith is a native of Cleveland, MS. He is the son of Maurice and Jewel Smith, also of Cleveland, MS. Mr. Smith currently resides in Olive Branch, MS and is an employee with the Tunica County School District. He graduated from Cleveland High School in 1998 and continued his education at Mississippi Delta Community College where he also played football. After receiving his Associate's degree in General Studies, he furthered his education by attending the University of Tennessee-Martin and majoring in Physical Therapy. After changing his major, Kendrick decided to transfer back home to Delta State University and major in physical education. Kendrick Smith received his bachelor’s degree from Delta State in 2005 and began his career in the Greenville Public School District where he served as an elementary physical education teacher and high school football coach. In 2006, Mr. Smith gained employment with the Shaw School District where he was a high school physical education and comprehensive health teacher and head football and track coach. After having success and turning the football program around at Shaw High School, Mr. Smith was hired in 2014 with the Marshall County School District where he served as a health teacher and head football coach at Byhalia High School. He served in the district for 3 years and later moved to the Tunica County School District in 2017.
In Tunica County, Mr. Smith served as a health and physical education teacher for 1 year before being asked to tutor students in math. He was able to find his calling after being asked to teach 6th grade math. After serving as the math teacher for 4 years, Mr. Smith went back to school and earned his master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Upon completion of the Master’s program and receiving his certification in administration, Mr. Smith was promoted to Assistant Principal in 2022. Kendrick Smith currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Rosa Fort High School In Tunica, MS. Kendrick is a devoted husband to his wife of 14 years, Floresha Smith and father of four to Nikolas, Jordan, Khloe, and Kennedi.
Henry Nickson, Jr.
Alternative School Director, Assistant Principal
Rosa Fort High School
School:
662-363-1343 ext. 3904
Henry Nickson, Jr. is a native of Tunica, Mississippi. A product of the Tunica County School District where he graduated in 1994 from Rosa Fort High School. After graduating from high school, he attended Jackson State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management in 1999. Also, he completed his student teaching at Provine High School and worked as a substitute teacher at Murrah High School in Jackson, MS. Mr. Nickson attended Belhaven University where he earned his Masters of Art in Teaching in 2012. He received his Specialist in educational leadership from Delta State University in 2018. Mr. Nickson is currently enrolled at Belhaven University working toward his doctoral degree in educational leadership since 2021.
Mr. Nickson was appointed Team Leader/GED/ESL/Basic Skills instructor for the Coahoma Community College’s (Adult Basic Education Program) in Tunica County, where he served for several years. Under his leadership the hardworking staff helped students in the community gain over fifty plus GED diplomas. After several years Mr. Nickson returned back to the Tunica County School District where he served as In-School Suspension Coordinator from 2007 to 2009, he then transitioned to the GED Coordinator for the Tunica County School District in 2009. After serving one year as a GED Coordinator, he was hired as an 8th-grade Social Studies/ICT II Teacher, assistant football coach, and assistant basketball coach at Tunica Middle School. In 2020-2021, he served as Assistant Principal at Tunica Middle School, then he was promoted to the Director of the David Williams, Jr Career and Technical Center, in 2022-2023. Currently, Mr. Nickson serves as Director of Alternative School and Assistant Principal at Rosa Fort High School. Mr. Nickson also served as the 1st African American Town of Tunica Board Alderman/Ward #5 in 2005. He served two terms before vacating his position as alderman to be elected a member of the Tunica County Board Supervisors/District #4 in 2012.
Mr. Nickson is the oldest child of two children (Sharla Nickson-Brown/sister) of his parents Henry and Mary Nickson. He is married to Lashunna Reshay Nickson. Mr. Nickson is a proud father of eight children Nikesha, Khalil, Chasity, Khalid, James, Anthony, Chasidy, and Henri. He has 5 grandchildren Aiden, Jayden, Neaveh, Kareem, and Kodie. Mr. Nickson is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated,
and Keystone #20 Masonic Lodge in Tunica, Mississippi. He lives by the motto: "LEADERS ARE BORN...NOT MADE!!!!"