School Focus
School Focus
Contributors
Editor-in-Chief
Dr. Donna Boone
Associate Editor
Jean Cook
Managing Editor
Pam Stafford
Editor
Heather Tucker
Designer
Chris McMillen
Writers
Heather Tucker
Chance Carden
Will Graves
Brock Turnipseed
Cherie Ward
All photos were submitted by the MDE or their respective districts unless otherwise noted.
On the Cover
Hitting
RightNotes the
Gautier Band Director Helps Students Uncover Passion for Music
By Brock Turnipseed
All are integral subjects in a student’s education Music combines those subjects and provides an outlet to express emotions, recall memories, enhance cognitive benefits, build teamwork and much more�
Louise Smith has spent all 21 years of her professional career instilling a love for music in students and teaching them to read music and play instru-
ments as the band director at Gautier Middle School (GMS) in the Pascagoula-Gautier School District (PGSD)�
Smith teaches band to seventh and eighth graders at GMS The students come to her having one year of experience, and her goal is to refine those skills and continue building confidence and a passion for music that will hopefully keep them pursuing band into high school
“I take the skills that they started in sixth grade, and I want them to master them,” Smith said “I want things to become automatic for them I want their thinking processes to be established in seventh grade so that when they get to eighth grade, it’s all application We want to take the skills they know and make them better by working in an ensemble ”
One reason Smith became the first band director named Mississip-
pi Teacher of the Year is she does not shy away from challenging students to grow both musically and personally
She discovered her passion for music in the PGSD as a member of the band at Pascagoula High School; however, she had no intention of pursuing a career as a band director
“My mother is Filipino, and I was raised with this mentality that I was going to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer,” Smith said� “I was going to LSU to major in biochemistry and go on to dental school to become an orthodontist ”
After attending the Gulf Coast Band Directors Association Clinic, she was at church and heard a voice tell her she would be a band director and major in music at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM)
“That was my calling into teaching I listened, and because I did, my
life has been incredibly blessed,” Smith said
She followed that calling to GMS, where she has been ever since And many students have thrived under her tutelage�
Her students perform at football games and put on concerts at Christmas and in the spring They also attend state concert evaluations to prepare them for the next step in high school
Nicole Allen, the associate director of bands at Pearl High School, became friends with Smith at a conductor’s workshop at USM and has watched Smith’s students flourish under her guidance
“There is significant growth each time I hear them,” Allen said “She does not shy away from challenging her students with the literature she chooses or the performance opportunities she provides ”
Smith attributes that growth to
having a solid team of band directors in the district who work together to create a fluid path from sixth grade to high school
Stephanie McArthur, the sixthgrade band director at PGSD’s Singing River Academy, has formed a tight-knit bond with Smith for the past 10 years McArthur plants the music seed before sending her students, including her two children, to grow under Smith�
“It’s amazing seeing our students go from beginners one year and see how much they grow over the course of their middle school careers,” McArthur said “[Smith] is instrumental in creating a safe space where kids can grow musically and personally She is instrumental in building a curriculum that takes what our beginners learn in year one and instills confidence in every aspect of the middle school curriculum, creating a highly successful high school band program ”
Smith told of a student who read below his grade level She taught him how to read music, emphasizing that the same skills used to read music are the same ones used in learning to read words, and the time invested in teaching the student to read music helped him grow his reading skills by three grade levels
Situations like that, or when students come together in an ensemble to play a beautiful composition, are when Smith realizes listening to that voice at church was the right decision
Now, as the Mississippi Teacher of the Year, she has the opportunity to advocate for teachers across the state, especially those who teach activities
“[Smith]
is instrumental in creating a safe space where kids can grow musically and personally. She is instrumental in building a curriculum that takes what our beginners learn in year one and instills confidence in every aspect of the middle school curriculum, creating a highly successful high school band program.
-Stephanie McArthur, sixth-grade band director at Pascagoula-Gautier School District
“Activities play a vital role in the education of the whole child Many activities teachers spend more than one year with their students,” Smith said “The way our band director
team works, we will have spent seven years with students — nearly half their life We are invested in seeing them succeed ” She hopes to use her platform to
show how activities can complement the extraordinary work being done by the academic teachers in the state
“There are wonderful teachers statewide, and to be able to tell about the great things happening in our state in education is humbling and an amazing opportunity,” Smith said�
Desoto County High School Students Ace the ACT
Desoto County High School recently congratulated more than 20 high school students who scored a 30 or higher on the ACT The students include:
Adam Bowling
Carson Cardell
Sarah Floate
Philip Hectorne
Chesney Ivy
Tyler Jordan
Peyton Rials
Jenna Rittman
Lillian Rochelle
Elijah Rogers
Jane Sharp
Quincy Silva
Rose Stafford
Hannah Standard
Jackson Stewart
Darcy Swift
Noel Terrell
Joseph Thornhill
Alexandra Trigg
Jackson Uselton
Grace Van Beurden
Adam Wiley
Peyton Williamson
Ethan Witt
Joseph Thornhill has already been accepted to the West Point U S Military Academy Ty Jordan has been accepted to the U S Naval Academy Alexandra Trigg received a perfect score of 36
NWR Students Selected to Senate Youth Program
Northwest Rankin High School (Rankin County School District) students Joshua Bowman and Nadia Harden were selected to the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) and joined Sen Roger F Wicker and Sen� Cindy Hyde-Smith in representing Mississippi during the 61st Annual USSYP Washington Week in March Bowman and Harden are both residents of Brandon and finished their senior year They were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation� Each delegate also receives a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study
The USSYP was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations since inception� Originally proposed by Senators Kuchel, Mansfield, Dirksen and Humphrey, the Senate leadership of the day, the impetus for the program, as stated in Senate testimony is “to increase young Americans’ understanding of the interrelationships of the three branches of government, learn the caliber and responsibilities of federally elected and appointed officials, and emphasize the vital importance of democratic decision making not only for America but for people around the world�”
Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program provides the most outstanding high school students — two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity — with an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment
to public service�
In addition to the program week, The Hearst Foundations provide each student with a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs All expenses for Washington Week are provided by The Hearst Foundations; as stipulated in S�Res�324, no government funds are utilized
Bowman served as the Mu Alpha Theta (Mathematics High School Honor Society) president Additionally, he served as the chapter president of Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, the Student Government executive secretary, the National Honor Society vice president, and the Beta Club secretary Bowman is a National Merit Semifinalist and captained the robotics team
He is an avid trombonist, serving as section leader in his school’s Cougar Bands and a member of the Mississippi All-State Band on tenor trombone Each year, Bowman arranged his school’s involvement in the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign,
recycling program and canned food drive� He also organized STEM exposure events for elementary students in his school zone Bowman plans to pursue a degree in chemical engineering, ultimately working in infrastructure or climate policy
Harden served as president of both the National French Honor Society and the Model United Nations� She was also a member of National Honor Society and National English Honor Society
Outside of school, Harden is involved with her church and its service ministries, serving as the leader of the audio-visual team and as one of the overall youth leaders She helps plan events in different programs and volunteers in her church’s monthly food program which serves 600 families
Last summer Harden participated in a six-week State Department program to study the Korean language in Seoul through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarship She plans to pursue a career in the State Department
Joshua Bowman
Nadia Harden
as a diplomat and study international relations in college with a minor in foreign language She then plans to earn a master’s degree in international development
Ian Underwood of Jackson who attends Jackson Preparatory School and Madelyn Berry of Brandon, who attends Northwest
Rankin High School, were chosen as alternates to the 2023 program�
Delegates and alternates are selected by the state departments of education nationwide and the District of Columbia and Department of Defense Education Activity, after nomination by teachers and princi-
pals� The chief state school officer for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection�
During the program week, the student delegates attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a Supreme Court justice and leaders of cabinet agencies, among others
VWSD Elementary Teachers Receive Scholarships
Five Vicksburg Warren School District Teachers were recently awarded the Black Educators Initiative Scholarship through William Carey University, funded by the National Center for Teacher Resi-
dencies� The scholarship includes tuition, university fees, testing materials, e-texts and more Precious Ivy (Sherman Avenue Elementary), Jennifer London (Warrenton Elementary), Arianna Hill (Dana Road
Elementary — not pictured), and Essence Evans (Dana Road Elementary) were the recipients All five teachers will graduate in May 2024 with a master’s degree in Elementary Education
Innovation Expanding Imagination
MSA Provides Unique Arts and Collegiate Experiences for Mississippi High Schoolers
By Chance Carden
Of Mississippi’s Schools and Districts of Innovation, the Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA) offers a truly unique approach to high school education for juniors and seniors from
across the state MSA, located in the heart of Brookhaven in southwest Mississippi, was officially designated as a School of Innovation by MDE for the 2022-23 academic year, though the school was founded through innovative ideas Being one of only nine
public, residential art schools in the nation, the distinct educational journey MSA offers students is rivaled by few others�
“Students audition in their tenthgrade year to attend MSA in one of six arts disciplines: dance, literary, me-
dia/film, theatre, visual art or vocal music,” stated MSA’s Executive Director, Dr Suzanne Hirsh
“While arts electives are available at all high schools throughout the state, there are no schools with a minimum of three hours daily of arts instruction At MSA the arts are not elective, they are core requirements�”
With the arts being the central focus of the school, students acquire a minimum of eight arts Carnegie Units while at MSA� In addition to their art studies, students take academic courses at MSA as well as Brookhaven High School
“If a student wants a traditional high school experience, they can get that with BHS courses academically and extracurriculars while studying art with MSA,” Hirsh said
“If a student wants a small environment, they can take their classes at MSA where no class has more than 22 students If they want a collegiate experience, they can take their classes through Copiah-Lincoln Community College dual credit/enrollment All students get a conservatory experience in the arts at MSA ”
According to the MSA website, the school averages approximately 125 students from 50 counties from around the state, with an average of 60% applicant acceptance rate each year�
As a residential high school, MSA fosters an immersive culture and environment to prepare students for college and career readiness The school’s student base boasts a 95-99% college attendance rate annually and consistently ranks among the top three in ACT scores in Mississippi MSA also has a 100% pass rate of the US History state test, a 100% graduation rate, and award-winning programs on state, regional and national levels
“Our students come to MSA as average students with a 2 5 GPA or better and the potential for greatness,”
Hirsh explained� “The growth in our students is substantial and many of our programs serve as models for the rest of the state ”
MSA also implemented a Collegiate Academy partnership with Copiah-Lincoln Community College (CoLin) Students who take advantage of the academy can earn an associate degree at no cost to them, though students not in the academy can also take tuition-free dual credit courses through Co-Lin
The model does not come without challenges Hirsh explained how “the Collegiate Academy requires a great amount of time and will require students to be ready to begin when they arrive at MSA As a result, there will likely only be 10% of students who can fully participate With the demands of MSA arts programming on top of a
Collegiate Academy, students will have a high level of expectations to meet ”
Despite these challenges, the benefits make the process worth the effort According to MSA English Teacher, Tobie Lambert, “MSA’s Collegiate Academy impacts our students on many fronts: It effectively transitions students by preparing them for the rigor and expectations of college-level courses, it helps them learn the technological skills necessary to succeed in a collegiate environment, and it sets them on an academic pathway for success that fits their individual plans Our program provides both academic and financial advantages for our students, giving them the opportunity to finish their degrees sooner and with a much lower price tag I am so proud to be a part of something that can make such a lasting impact
on our students and their futures ”
MSA also exposes students to an average of fifteen guest artists annually who are practicing in their fields “They stay from 2-10 days, depending upon the residency,” said Hirsh “[Our] students regularly take trips with their departments to participate in performances, events, and exhibits There are partnerships and collaborations with state agencies — film
studios, museums, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, universities and nonprofit organizations to create opportunities for skill building and exposure to careers in the arts,” she said Keeping with the spirit of excellence, MSA students and staff are consistently awarded in festivals and competitions across the state, as well as both nationally and internationally� Depending on their chosen art
discipline, students also travel across the globe for additional industry experiences and learning opportunities, including locations such as New York City, San Francisco, New Orleans, Italy and many other art hubs
MSA’s unique and personalized approach to both art and academic instruction continues to be a shining example of innovation for Mississippi education�
MDE Educator Shortage Survey: 515 Fewer Vacancies in 2022-23
Results from the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) 202223 Educator Shortage survey showed 515 fewer vacancies among teachers, administrators and school support staff across the state compared to the 2021-22 school year
MDE’s Office of Teaching and Leading conducted the first such survey in 2021-22, which reflected 5,503 vacancies The vacancies for 2022-23 fell to 4,988 The survey was conducted from Aug 18, 2022 to Nov 14, 2022, and had 100% participation from school districts
Though teacher vacancies decreased in the majority of subject areas, they did increase in pre-K
and high school science, chemistry, physics, math, geometry, career and technical education, heath/physical education and gifted Teacher vacancies increased in the northeast part of the state, while slight to significant declines were noted elsewhere
Vacancies declined among school administrators (principal and assistant principal) and K-12 licensed educators in library/media, counselor and speech/language positions
The highest overall vacancies were among K-12 support staff for teacher assistants and school bus drivers
The MDE is evaluating the survey results, along with results from its
October 2022 Teacher Retention survey, to bolster and develop strategies to mitigate vacancies and strengthen the educator workforce statewide
MDE’s Mississippi Teacher Residency program has proven to be a pathway of professional advancement for teacher assistants and some school bus drivers Other strategies consist of improving professional development by removing barriers to educator licensure, including access, receipt and renewal of licenses
MDE will continue to assess opportunities to expand access to its Performance-Based Licensure program per district request
NAMS Science Teacher Gets Crafty
Natchez Adams Middle School 8th grade science teacher LeTrice Wiley helped her students understand the concept of mitosis by encouraging them to create their own models out of paper plates, yarn and other materials
Administrator
OF THE YEAR
Dr. Caterria Payton of Pacagoula High
By Cherie Ward
When Pascagoula High School
Principal Dr Caterria Payton was a child, she discovered who she wanted to grow up and be in the place that made her feel normal, safe, and secure — her school
Dr Payton grew up in one of the worst housing projects in New Orleans, and she used her school days as an escape
“If it wasn’t for my teachers and principals, there would not be a Dr Payton today,” she said “Without a doubt, I’m where I am today because of my high school principal and my high school teachers ”
Those loyal educators gave her the direction she needed to get out of the environment she was in by way of joining the military
“I joined the reserves, and I was able to see what the rest of the world looked like,” she said, adding she always knew she’d pay it forward by someday becoming an educator
And now, Dr Payton has been tapped as the 2023 Mississippi Administrator of the Year� She was also named the school district’s top administrator in November 2022
“It was a shock because there were so many great people in the running,” she said “I’m very overwhelmed yet humbled� I accept the award on behalf of the many teach-
ers, administrators and other school staff who have accompanied me on the journey to creating optimal learning environments for students ”
She’s done a little of everything in her 23 years as an educator She was an assistant teacher and then a teacher before she landed on the administration side serving as lead teacher and then principal Most recently, Dr� Payton was selected as assistant superintendent over secondary schools in the Pascagoula-Gautier School District� She’s excited to begin her new post at the start of the next school year
“I eat, sleep and breathe public education,” she said, adding being a teacher’s kid was something her three children had to endure during their childhood
“As teacher kids, they were in school all summer,” she said “They were helping get classrooms together Helping teachers with their technologies They lived that teacher kid life ”
Her children are now adults, and they are beyond excited and incredibly proud of their mom They also think it’s humorous that the teacher kid-life mentality is beginning to trickle downward Of her four grandchildren, one is in pre-kindergarten and already has people saying, “I know who your grandmother is,” she said laughing “It’s really a job that never ends ”
And she has former students who seek her out for advice
“I constantly get emails or text messages wanting advice or support,” she said “And I love it This is what I do Just because they graduate, my job really doesn’t stop� My job does not end with graduation and whether or not they go into education, they can still reach out to me and they know that They are always going to be one of my kids ”
Photos are courtesy of Dr. Caterria Payton and the Pascagoula-Gautier School District. This story first appeared on OurMississippiHome.com and is reproduced here with the author’s permission.
When she has former students wanting advice about becoming a teacher, she tells them to be sure they can teach with conviction
“It’s going to be difficult at times, but just as difficult as it is, it’s twice as rewarding,” she said “It’s not something that you will ever regret ”
U.S. Department of Education Names Three Mississippi Schools Among National Blue Ribbon Award Winners
Three Mississippi Schools were announced as National Blue Ribbon Schools Sept 19 by the U S Department of Education: Caledonia High School (CHS; Lowndes County School District), Laurel Magnet School of the Arts (LMSA; Laurel School District) and Lewisburg Elementary School (LES; Desoto County School District)
According to their website, “The
National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups ”
They also say the award “affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where
students master challenging and engaging content ”
Schools honored by the program are given a Blue Ribbon School flag to grace their entry or fly in front of their school
“Our teachers understand the art of teaching and place student engagement at the forefront of their planning,” CHS’s Principal Brent Huck said at the school’s celebration CHS was
awarded in the category of Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools
“This marks a history of excellence at LMSA,” former Principal Kiana Pendleton told local news outlet WHPM in September
“This is such a big deal because of the amount of work put into this It was very intentional, it was all done with integrity, it was all done with a lot of love, a lot of dedication,” Pendleton said�
In the same story, current principal Heather Jones said she is “very confident the success will continue, simply because LMSA has a lot of people who want to be here…who love Laurel and want to see Laurel succeed ”
LMSA was awarded in the category of Exemplary High Performing
Schools
Lewisburg Elementary School was also awarded in the category of Exemplary High Performing Schools
“The Mississippi Department of Education applauds these three schools
for their outstanding achievements that have earned them this national recognition,” Dr� Ray Morgigno, interim state superintendent of education, stated “We thank all educators, staff and
community stakeholders whose hard work contributed to successful student outcomes,” he said
An awards ceremony for the National Blue Ribbon Schools will be held in Washington, D C , Nov 16-17
NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS
353 schools recognized in 46 states plus DC and DoDEA
Parent 2023 OF THE YEAR Kimberly Walker Nailor
The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced this spring the 2023 Mississippi Parent of the Year is Kimberly Walker Nailor, a mother of two students in the Vicksburg-Warren School District
Nailor was nominated by the school district and is described as a model parent who cares about her community and school district Because of Nailor’s enthusiasm, passion and dedication to the community and school district, students have been able to have more enriching experiences at school Nailor is employed as the city attorney of Vicksburg and always finds time to volunteer for the school district and the community She has invested in finding solutions to make the Vicksburg–Warren County community a better place for the development of students
Nailor’s rationale for being active in her children’s education is to maximize their academic and future success She believes the positive deposits override the negative withdrawals that children face, such as bullying, sickness, frustration with schoolwork and rejection� Being an engaging parent by managing extracurricular activities, homework assignments, parent meetings, school activities and volunteering in the classroom allows for consistent positive deposits in her children’s lives�
Nailor’s participation in various
service-oriented activities and organizations has helped make the community a better place for student development She assisted financially in sponsoring and serving meals for football players before games and practices Due to lack of funding allot-
ted to the athletic budget, there was no money for football players to have meals without voluntary assistance
In 2021, Nailor joined the Vicksburg High School (VHS) Booster Club, and they raised tens of thousands of dollars to sustain the athletics program
In 2019, she volunteered weekly in a sixth-grade classroom to assist the teacher with encouraging students to perform well on the state test The class was successful in passing the benchmark state test
As first reported by The Vicksburg Post, Nailor credits her family for inspiring her passion to support community initiatives and volunteerism�
“My parents, Ernest and Martha Walker — from the time we were little — were always going to nursing homes We were always volunteering and doing things in the community,” Nailor said “If there was a child that was at risk or just needed some guidance, they would take kids in so that they can teach them, ‘Hey, there’s another way besides the route that you’re going ’ So, this is something that’s been ingrained since I was a child, just knowing that we have a greater mission of doing the right thing and serving people ”
My
I have to get onto them; they’re boys,” she told The Vicksburg Post� “But the love that they have for me and the love that I have for them makes it easy to be a Parent of the Year� So, it’s not necessarily the things that I do for the school district ”
Other doors were opened for speaking engagements to classes about the field of law
Through her dedication to the community and school district, she has served on the parent committee for VHS, as chairperson for the Child and Parent Center, as advisory board member for both the West Central United Way and the Randy J Naylor Memorial Foundation and provided book scholarships to seniors She is currently the chairperson for the board of advisors of the Warren County Children’s Shelter and serves as VHS Mock Trial Advisor
parents, Ernest and Martha Walker — from the time we were little — were always going to nursing homes. We were always volunteering and doing things in the community,” Nailor said. “If there was a child that was at risk or just needed some guidance, they would take kids in so that they can teach them, ‘Hey, there’s another way besides the route that you’re going.’ So, this is something that’s been ingrained since I was a child, just knowing that we have a greater mission of doing the right thing and serving people..
-Kimberly Nailor
That service-before-self upbringing makes it easy to be involved not only in the schools, but more importantly as an involved parent in the lives of her sons — Cameron Nailor, 16, and Brandon Nailor, 14
“My kids make it easy They’re good
With a passion to mentor, Nailor spearheaded weekly sessions from 2015-2016 for approximately 30 teenage girls at Warren Central Junior High School to build self-esteem and encourage proper lifestyle choices
Research has repeatedly shown that parental involvement is a critical factor in determining the academic success of students As part of the annual Parent of the Year program, MDE asks each school district to select an outstanding parent who has made a significant impact on school improvement efforts in the district
The committee reviews numerous applications and selects a Parent of the Year finalist from each of the four congressional districts From those four district winners, the 2023 Parent of the Year is determined
Natchez-Adams School District Starts the School Year With Reading Event
Natchez-Adams School District recently held an Accelerated Reader Kickoff event where Natchez High School and Natchez Early College Academy Royal Court members and Braden Elementary administrators visited Morgantown, Gilmer McLaurin and Susie B West elementary schools to read to the students The event — designed to excite young scholars about the prospect of reading both for school and leisure — included dressing up, story times led by the visiting Royal Court members and Braden administrators and general encouragement to students and families to visit local and school libraries for at-home reading
Jackson Public Schools Teacher Accepted into Prestigious Nationwide Program
Micah O Briggs, Sr has been accepted into Class Three of the W K Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network (WKKFCLN) with the Center for Creative Leadership This dynamic fellowship will connect Briggs to 79 other inspiring leaders from priority places across the United States to connect, grow and lead transformational change toward a more equitable society
The WKKFCLN website says, “Briggs has dedicated his time, skills and resources as a youth advocate, building engagement and empowerment wherever he teaches He recently founded Mind Over Barriers LLC, a consulting firm committed to advancing solutions for students, families and communities who are navigating the inequities that traumatize and continually paralyze their progress and quality of life Previously, Briggs worked as an educator and director of a district-wide education program, addressing the trauma that envelops youth; providing safe spaces flooded with grace, relevance and opportunities; and connecting young people with mental health, academic and vocational resources Briggs is a proud
graduate of Jackson State University and John Brown University”
The 18-month fellowship offers hands-on development, personalized coaching, peer networking and practical experience to expand fellows’ leadership knowledge and skills Founder Will Keith Kellogg believed local leaders are the best source of the ideas, passion and wisdom required to create long-lasting solutions for thriving chil-
dren and their families The Center for Creative Leadership was tapped to lead the program based on its 50-year track record of cutting-edge research, practice and training that develops leaders at all levels to drive sustainable change for the benefit of society
Visit wkkfcln org for more information and for updates on what Mr� Briggs and the other fellows are doing and learning
Greenhorn Communicators: Green Elementary School Students Explore Mass Media Opportunities with Podcast
Superintendent Dr Errick L Greene was a special guest on a podcast hosted by students at Green Elementary School (Jackson Public School District) The podcast is designed to help young students explore the fields of journalism and communication early in their education journey Pictured is Greene’s visit with the podcast creators at Green Elementary
Statewide Assessment
Results: Student Achievement Reaches All-Time High
Percentage of Mississippi Students Scoring Proficient or Advanced
*New version of U.S. History test implemented.
Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE’s) results from 2022–23 assessments show student achievement reaching an all-time high in mathematics, English Language Arts (ELA), science and U�S� History�
Overall, the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced is 52 6% in mathematics, 46 7% in ELA, 59 4% in science and 71 4% in U S History
The 2022–23 results show student achievement has resumed the pre-pandemic momentum from 2016 to 2019, during which the percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced increased from 1 8% to 5 6% in ELA and mathematics Student achievement — both in Mississippi and nationally — dropped in 2021 due to the pandemic, though Mississippi students mostly rebounded by 2022
“Mississippi students have continued to prove they can achieve at higher and
higher levels,” said Dr Ray Morgigno, interim state superintendent of education “I am proud of what our students have accomplished and credit teachers and school leaders statewide for maintaining high standards and dedicating themselves to helping students reach, and exceed, their goals ”
Since 2020, school districts and the state have invested federal pandemic-relief funds in programs and services to overcome pandemic disruptions and accelerate student learning The additional funds enabled districts to pay for extended learning days, tutorial services and intensive interventions, among other supports State investments include the Mississippi Connects digital learning initiative, which provided all students with a computer device and services including on-demand tutoring, high-quality digital curriculum subscriptions and digital learning coaches for teachers
Mississippi is increasingly recognized as a national leader in education because students have made faster progress than nearly every other state Several factors contributed to the steady rise in student achievement including the implementation of higher academic standards and statewide support to teachers to help students reach higher standards Other factors include the effective implementation of several education reform laws and policies that developed or strengthened early childhood education, literacy instruction, school and district accountability and advanced learning opportunities for high school students
Since 2013, Mississippi’s national Quality Counts ranking for K-12 achievement improved from 50th to 35th, and the state’s overall education grade improved from F to C- (the nation’s grade is C)
