School Focus Summer 2023

School Focus

Contributors

Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Donna Boone

Associate Editor

Jean Cook

Managing Editor

Brock Turnipseed

Editor

Heather Craig

page 4

page 10 page 18

Designer

Chris McMillen

Writers

Will Graves

Chance Carden

All photos were submitted by the MDE or their respective districts unless otherwise noted.

On the Cover

Jazmine Robertson shares a laugh with students at Thames Elementary School (Hattiesburg Public School District). Robertson is a member of the University of Southern Mississippi’s inaugural Mississippi Teacher Residency Program cohort.

TEACHERSHomegrown

Nation’s First State-Run Teacher Residency Tackles Teacher Shortage

available by the federal government

An alternate-route teaching program seeks to recruit and train individuals interested in the field of education and connects them with employment in a high-need school district — all while earning a master’s degree at no cost

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) launched the Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) program with the help of American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding made

With approval from the Mississippi Board of Education, MDE awarded over $9 8 million in grant dollars to five universities across the state, all in an effort to increase access to effective elementary and special education teachers

Now accepting applications for its fifth cohort, MTR provides a well-structured pathway for professionals with a non-education bachelor’s degree to transition into the classroom as fully licensed teachers

“Some of the key elements of MTR

include partnerships between geographical critical shortage area school districts and eligible institutions of higher education that do indeed share a vision of effective teaching and practice,” said Dr Courtney Van Cleve, MDE’s state director of educator talent acquisition and effectiveness

“Within that, we recruit diverse participants such as people of color, men, veterans from the Armed Forces and teacher assistants who then participate in yearlong pre-service clinical training alongside an experienced, effective mentor teacher with

Will Graves

integrated coursework resulting in certification and a master’s degree,” Van Cleve said

Rickayla McDonald recently graduated from the MTR program at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and has worked for several years as a teacher assistant at Kreole Primary Elementary in the Moss Point School District Now, with a master’s degree and educator credentials in hand, she looks forward to transitioning into the role of teacher, a dream made possible by the MTR

“Becoming a teacher has always been my dream,” she said “In 11th grade I was in the Teacher Academy program I met a student during my very first internship who did not know how

to write his name He couldn’t spell or write it, but by the end of my Teacher Academy internship, I had helped

is my calling I don’t want any other profession but to teach ”

Though she majored in education for her bachelor’s degree, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted her academic journey Struggles with the Praxis exam led McDonald to graduate with a non-teaching degree, but her persistence in becoming a teacher remained

him learn how to write his name That sparked my interest, and I realized this

“I decided to just step my foot in the door and be a teacher assistant to see if I could get an emergency license or anything,” she said “Then this program came about, and it was like a blessing in disguise� I was already a teacher assistant for a school district that participated in MTR, so everything aligned perfectly, and I was able to get my

Many of our MTR graduates are planning on entering the general education classroom, but they have spoken very highly about the integrated approach with special education. They all have said they feel much more competent about working with students who have special needs in their general education classrooms..

- Andrea Krell, Director of Teacher Residency, USM

Opposite page: The University of Southern Mississippi welcomed its inaugural Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) program class for the 2022-2023 school year. Pictured on the front row, from left, is Jazmine Robertson, Rickayla McDonald, Erica Odom, LaMyia Tait and Brunetta Dallas; back row: Taniesha Garcia, Lorraine Weiskopf and Mattie Armstrong. Above: McDonald reads to students as part of her MTR program experience.

master’s degree while being mentored in the school I already worked in ”

The MTR program provides a pathway for teacher assistants like McDonald to work toward a master’s degree and licensure as a teacher in Mississippi� The growth of MTR programs proves the investment is yielding positive returns

USM began placing its first MTR residents last school year, with eight residents across five school districts This upcoming year, USM’s College of Education and Human Sciences will place 32 residents and have expanded the number of participating districts

While each participating institution of higher learning manages its own educator preparation for MTR, USM has taken a unique direction by structuring its program to include both elementary and special education Ac-

cording to Andrea Krell, USM’s director of teacher residency, this combined approach trains more well-rounded and confident teachers

“The actual degree program that our residents are working on is a Master of Art in Teaching (MAT) in Inclusive Elementary Education,” Krell said “Some of the MTR programs are having residents choose between an MAT in Elementary Education or an MAT in Special Education, but we have integrated both of those so that our students leave with both licenses Because of that, we provide our residents with a mentor on both the elementary education and special education side We prefer that residents are able to focus on having a true residency experience in the classroom with their mentors ”

Having veteran teachers mentor residents has been beneficial, with

many mentors commenting that they wished this type of experience was available to them during their time in an educator preparation program� Krell said the MTR program is developing more capable, confident teachers to meet the needs of critical shortage areas

“Many of our MTR graduates are planning on entering the general education classroom, but they have spoken very highly about the integrated approach with special education,” Krell said “They all have said they feel much more competent about working with students who have special needs in their general education classrooms ”

The MTR program is undoubtedly helping fill teaching positions in critical-need districts with highly qualified educators The program has done so well that Mississippi has been turning

heads on a national stage MDE has received MTR-related media inquiries from outlets such as National Public Radio, The Washington Post, Education Week and the Council for Chief State School Officers, all within the last few months Van Cleve said that regardless of accolades or acclaim, the MTR program is positively impacting Mississippi students

“Even as we want to highlight some of our celebratory milestones at a high level, we never want to lose sight of the fact that this program is indeed having an individual impact on our teachers and students,” Van Cleve said “Given that this is only within just one year of an ESSER-funded program, we are intending as a next step to pursue future financial sustainability pathways beyond ESSER for the continuation of this work ”

McDonald (right above photo and left below) poses with students and Vanessa Edwards, her MTR mentor.

Four Mississippi Schools Named 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools

Four schools in Mississippi were among the 297 schools across the nation named as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022 by U�S� Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups

Secretary Cardona made the announcement during his Road to Success Back to School bus tour

The Mississippi schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools were:

• Florence Elementary School, Rankin County School District

• Hayes Cooper Center, Cleveland School District

• Petal High School, Petal School District

• Oak Grove Lower Elementary School, Lamar County School District

“National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as exceptional models for improving student outcomes, closing achievement gaps and implementing effective teaching methods,” said Dr Kim Benton, former interim state superintendent of education “I congratulate Mississippi’s 2022 honorees, including all teachers, administrators and community stakeholders, who collectively invest in students’ overall success ”

With its 39th cohort, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms and validates the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in striving for – and attaining – exemplary achievement

National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation A National BlueRibbon School flag gracing a school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning

“I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential and achieve their dreams,” Cardona said “As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional and mental health needs These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives ”

The U S Department of Education recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests

• Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students

Hayes Cooper Center and Petal High School were recognized as Exemplary High-Performing Schools

Florence Elementary School and Oak Grove Lower Elementary School were recognized as Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year The U S Department of Education invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U S territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education

NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

297 schools recognized in 45 states plus DC and DoDEA

Mississippi Makes Online Tutoring Available to K-12 Students ON-DEMAND

Since March 2022, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has offered online, on-demand tutoring for all K-12 students through Paper, an online tutoring service that self-describes as “individualized support to help [students] solve problems, explore new ways of learning and chart their own path to success ”

The service is paid for with Elemen-

tary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds that became available after three different federal laws were passed during the pandemic to assist schools in continuing quality education for students

Between March and May of this year, almost 117,000 students statewide engaged in tutoring services through Paper Engagement varies by county and district, and educators hope spreading the word about on-demand tutoring

among teachers, parents and families will increase engagement over the remaining months of the contract (MDE’s agreement with Paper runs through September 2024 )

Dr Marla Davis, associate superintendent and academic liaison at MDE, said Paper’s services offer many benefits to students

“For one, there’s the privacy aspect,” Davis said “Not every student feels comfortable asking questions in class;

Heather Craig

sometimes they don’t even know what questions to ask until later� Paper helps students figure out what questions they need answered The tutors are great — they don’t provide the answers, but they will stay in a session with a student as long as is needed ”

Davis also pointed out that the sessions do not have a time limit or a limit in number Students can reach out to a tutor anytime, and the tutor will work with the student until the student’s needs are met

“[The tutors] ask probing questions to get the students to the final response,” Davis explained� “This helps students build transferable skills that help with other assessments, other content areas and even other life situations ”

This patient approach to tutoring is a large part of Paper’s company philosophy CEO Phil Cutler said, “We encourage tutors to be empathetic — the students coming on [for tutoring] — they are being vulnerable in a way, so we work hard to give them patience and understanding ”

A Tailored Experience

Beyond tutoring sessions, Paper also offers game-style tutoring in the form of Math Missions and essay and peer reviews, as well as reviews of college essays and résumés for older students Over the past year, Mississippi students have completed over two million activities�

One Mississippi sixth grader said Paper’s on-demand tutoring has helped him learn new math topics faster “When my math teacher introduced the class to base x height, it took me two weeks to learn how to do it, but when I learned variables on Paper, it only took me three days to master it� Paper is very helpful,” he said

A West Point Consolidated School District fifth grade writing teacher said, “Paper has been such a rewarding experience for my students in writing Seeing the excitement on their little faces after receiving feedback became the highlight of every day They have truly shown growth in writing thanks to the diligent, dedicated team at Paper ”

A Hands-On Endeavor

Melissa Banks, MDE’s director of digital learning, has worked with the department’s digital learning coaches (DLCs) and Paper’s customer success managers (CSMs) — all of whom were once Mississippi educators — to make sure Mississippi students’ unique needs are met� The DLCs act as a liaison between the Paper CSMs and schools, providing training and sup-

Opposite page and left: Students at Pierce Street Elementary (PSE) in the Tupelo Public School District work on sessions through online tutoring service Paper.

port to teachers as needed

“As soon as the coaches present Paper, the principals and teachers are excited [about the prospect of on-demand tutoring],” Banks said�

Despite the excitement among educators, MDE is still working to raise awareness in classrooms so students and teachers can ask for what is needed and promote the service with even more parents and families

Scott County Superintendent Alan Lumpkin said, “Paper’s customer success team has been with us every step of the way — through training, implementation and follow-up — to ensure we are reaching our full potential with this amazing resource ”

So far this year, feedback from parents and teachers has resulted in two new components to Paper’s platform, especially for Mississippi’s students: voiceto-text for students who have not mastered the keyboard and capabilities for a math keyboard that helps students com-

plete math homework without having to search for difficult-to-find symbols

Cutler says Paper’s commitment to responding to feedback is one of the biggest benefits of a partnership with the company

Advancing Equity

In addition to added capabilities within the platform, MDE has hosted parent nights and digital teacher academies to spread the word about the program and make the services more accessible

A Quitman County parent said “[Paper] has been very helpful to all of us� I love how the tutors are real and available at all times I have seen more confidence in my children as they use Paper and start to understand and grasp the concepts ”

Davis says parent nights and webinars were particularly helpful for English learners (ELs) and their parents who sometimes have more questions and need additional language support

“Paper tutoring itself is helpful with

EL students as well because the student may not understand something in class — there may be a culture or language barrier with certain phrases in the lesson not translating into the student’s native language easily — but the tutors are able to help quickly and in a private environment that helps the student feel comfortable asking what they may not in class,” Davis said

Cutler says the company’s focus on equity is what drew MDE to contract their services Paper’s focus on helping every student succeed, not on one particular assignment, but in other life challenges, even led them to acquire MajorClarity — the platform Mississippi uses to help middle schoolers find a career path — after hearing acclaim for it during an online meeting

“Paper is not just tutoring It helps students become contributing members of society Paper’s role in that is to give support and resources [that encourage student success],” Cutler said

A PES student works on an assignment through Paper.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) 2021-22 Superintendent’s Annual Report has been released detailing how academic progress has been made as MDE designated more than $96 million in federal funds to help students, schools and districts recover from pandemic disruptions to learning View the report online at mdek12 org/superintendent2022

Report highlights:

• Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) scores for 2021-22 show student achievement exceeded pre-pandemic levels with the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced reaching an all-time high of 42 2% in English Language Arts (ELA) and 55 9% in science, and reaching 47 3% in mathematics, just shy of the pre-pandemic rate of 47�4%�

• The 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores show Mississippi students are maintaining historic gains in fourth grade reading

• MDE contracted with a staffing agency for $1 8 million to expand its Licensure Call Center with longer hours and additional customer service representatives to better assist prospective and current educators

• MDE’s Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) program granted $9 8 million to five universities: Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University to cover tuition and expenses for up to 200 individuals seeking a graduate degree in elementary and secondary education

• A record high of 10,534 public school students took 14,788 Advanced Placement exams with 5,573 exams earning a qualifying score

• Graduation rate reached an alltime high of 88 4%

• Dropout rate reached a record low of 8 5%

• MDE procured tutorial services through PAPER for $10 7 million that provide students in grades 3-12 with online

access to ELA and mathematics tutors 24 hours a day, seven days a week

• The percentage of students participating in dual credit courses rose from 6 6% in 2016 to 13 8% in 2022

• The total number of Early Learning Collaboratives (ELCs), which provide high-quality early childhood education pre-K programs to 4-year-old students, increased to 35 through August 2022

• MDE partnered with the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to create a telehealth delivery system within K-12 schools to provide remote health care and health care provider access to students

• MDE piloted Mississippi Beginnings: Pre-K curriculum to support any preschool teacher in providing rich, playbased, intentional, developmentally ap-

propriate instructions�

• MDE used $12 7 million of federal funds to begin modernizing the Mississippi Student Information System (MSIS) that was created in 2000

• Four schools were named 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools

Mississippi schools and districts earned new accountability A-F grades for the first time since 2019� Accountability grades help teachers, school leaders, parents and communities know how well local schools and districts are serving students Though the 2021-22 grades should always be viewed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 81% of schools and 87% of districts are now rated C or higher

MDE Announces New Members of State Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council for 2022-23

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced 60 new members named to the State Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SAC) for 2022-23 The council includes students in grades 11-12 or the first year of college who serve a term of two school years

The 60 new members join 50 students who return to the council from the previous school year

All students come from different backgrounds, school sizes and regions in Mississippi and will be able to share their opinions and offer advice about educational opportunities and policy in Mississippi

Each fall, the MDE opens applications for new members to the SAC Students are required to write a compelling cover letter and provide answers to questions about their in-

terest in the SAC, their accomplishments, educational concerns and academic goals

The council’s purpose is to provide a forum for Mississippi’s students to offer diverse perspectives to the state superintendent of education The students act as liaisons between the MDE and public school students from across the state Council meetings are held three times during the school year

Mississippi Maintains NAEP Fourth Grade Reading Gains Despite National Decline in All Subjects

Mississippi maintained its historic gains in fourth grade reading on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), while scores nationally dropped in all four NAEP subjects and grades

The results provide the first national measure of student learning since the start of the pandemic Known as the Nation’s Report Card, NAEP measures student performance in fourth and eighth grade reading and math in all 50 states and Washington, D C

The 2022 results show Mississippi fourth graders scored at the national average in reading and math� Mississippi’s economically disadvantaged fourth graders achieved higher scores in reading and math than their peers nationally and in the South� This achievement holds steady among black, white and Hispanic students living in poverty

“The 2022 NAEP scores prove the resilience of Mississippi students and the ability of Mississippi educators to provide high-quality instruction despite the challenges of the pandemic,” said Dr Kim Benton, former interim state superintendent of education “While our state’s scores are encouraging, they also underscore the need to press forward to ensure all students achieve proficiency� In particular, we have more work to do in eighth grade reading and math to bring student performance up to the national average and then continue to improve ”

In eighth grade, Mississippi scores dropped three points in reading and eight points in math, which matches the decline nationally in both subjects Mississippi fourth graders dropped seven points in math, which is statistically equivalent to the five-point decline nationally

While pandemic disruptions are believed to have affected this year’s national decline

on NAEP, scores have been falling over the past decade in most states� Despite this national trend, Mississippi is a leader among the few states that have shown improvements on one or more NAEP assessments over the past decade Specifically:

• Mississippi achieved significant gains in fourth grade reading and math since 2011

• Along with Washington D C , Mississippi is the only state or jurisdiction that improved over a 10-year period in two of the four core NAEP subjects

• Mississippi is one of only two states with improved fourth grade math scores over a decade and one of only three states with gains in fourth grade reading�

• In eighth grade, Mississippi scores remained flat in reading and math over the past decade while the average scores nationally dropped in both subjects

In short, over the past 10 years, Mississippi has improved significantly in reading and math in fourth grade and held steady in both subjects in eighth grade while scores nationally in both grades and subjects have

declined

Mississippi achieved the No 1 spot in the nation for NAEP gains in 2019 when fourth grade students made the largest score gains from 2017 to 2019 in reading and mathematics, eighth grade students outpaced the nation for growth in mathematics and eighth grade reading held steady Student achievement has increased significantly since 2013 after the statewide implementation of the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, higher academic standards with aligned assessments, a strong accountability system and a significant investment in professional development for educators

Pre-pandemic, student achievement steadily increased from the first administration of the state’s Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) in 2016 until 2019, when the percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced reached a record high After a decline in MAAP scores in 2021, student achievement rebounded in 2022 to pre-pandemic levels

GUIDING

Special Education CONVERSATIONS

MDE’s Family Guides to Special Education Services Help Teachers, Families Support Students With Disabilities

Brock Turnipseed

Having a child with a disability can be an overwhelming experience for parents as they struggle to fully understand their child’s needs at home

and find the educational services to support their development

It takes a community effort from teachers, school administrators and parents to help a student with a disability thrive in the school en-

vironment

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) makes free appropriate public education available to eligible children with disabilities and ensures they receive special educa-

tion and related services Services are provided through an individualized education program (IEP) that outlines how the school will meet its students’ educational needs

The amount of information shared during IEP meetings can be overwhelming for parents, so the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of Special Education (OSE), with support from the Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit (RCU), created the Family Guides to Special Education Services to provide parents a greater understanding of their child’s disability and point to Mississippi-specific guidance and resources to support them at school and home

The OSE used the MDE Office of Elementary Education and Reading’s Family Success Guides as a blueprint

“We saw the impact they had on the field and the support they provided family,” Ginger Koestler, the OSE’s director of policy and practice, said� “We knew our families of students with disabilities would benefit from a similar resource ”

The 14 family guides address each of the 13 disability categories covered under the IDEA and significant cognitive disability Each volume defines the disability, outlines the eligibility requirements, gives helpful vocabulary and provides research-based strategies for parents�

Connecting families and schools plays a vital role in the success of students with disabilities, and Koestler said the OSE saw the family guides as a tool that could be used in building that collaborative partnership

Kristen Richey, a special services coordinator for the New Albany School

District (NASD), said the individual volumes helped parents from being overwhelmed and provided in-depth information targeted to their child’s specific eligibility category

They have also been valuable in connecting the information parents receive in IEP meetings with something they can take home and digest at their own pace

“We talk to parents about how their student qualifies for special education services, but with the family guides we can show them,” she said� “Sometimes we forget that parents don’t live in our world, so the family guides have been a great bridge for us to be able to communicate thoroughly and simply

to parents in a serious time with their child and their education ”

Connecting the IEP meetings with the family guides helps build trust and opens channels for more dialogue between school personnel and parents

“It gives them that trust in us of having a resource that is saying the same thing we are,” Richey said “They’ve opened up conversations and helped the parents feel comfortable coming back to us to find out more information and ask questions they might not have known to ask in meetings�”

While the family guides provide a valuable tool for parents, Elisa Goss, the director of special education in the DeSoto County Schools (DCS), has

Opposite page: Sabrina Hall (right), a case manager in the New Albany School District, shows a volume of the Family Guides to Special Education Services to parent Alisha Burks. Above: DeSoto County School District (DCS) teachers work through one of the family guides during a professional development training.

used them to help administrators understand the different eligibility categories and assist new teachers in becoming familiar with the terminology used in special education

“Explaining to parents that their child has an intellectual disability can be a challenge,” Goss said “The family guides help explain that and bridge the gap for the teacher and the parent by answering what that means and how we are going to provide services ”

Goss said the DCS uses the family guides with its preschool assessment team to help parents understand their child’s disability at an early age and offer them assurances that their child can learn

“That is their first experience with special education and the school district unless their child is coming to us from early intervention,” Goss said “The family guides help parents understand that just because their child has a de-

velopmental delay in a couple of categories doesn’t mean they can’t learn We just haven’t hit those milestones�

“We’re going to work on those so that we can close the gap as much as possible before the child goes to kindergarten,” she added

While the family guides are designed to help parents better understand their child’s disability, they have also supplemented the Access for All (AFA) Guide 2 0 that the OSE and the RCU created� The AFA Guide 2�0 provides evidence-based tools that can be implemented in the general education classroom to support every student’s ability to learn through different adaptations

“There’s a clear line and connection between the family guides and the Access for All Guide,” Koestler said “Both set up teachers and families to provide the appropriate supports needed for

their students to be successful in college and the workforce ”

Goss emphasizes using the adaptations in the AFA Guide with her district’s general education teachers to help meet the learning needs of all students

“I want (general education teachers) to understand it was created for any student, not just students with disabilities,” Goss said� “For students with identified disabilities or getting support for special education, you’re going to go to the Access for All Guide� However, the family guides can help with understanding that specific disability and what potential challenges that student may face so you can hone in on what’s really needed ”

Educators continually seek Mississippi-specific resources, and the family guides are just another tool schools can use to build an educational environment where all students thrive

For DCS teachers, the family guides are a valuable resource to help parents understand their child’s disability and the services that can be provided to support their education.

AP Participation and Achievement Among Mississippi Students Reaches a Record High in 2021-22

The number of Mississippi students taking and passing Advanced Placement (AP) exams reached a record high during the 2021-22 school year, with 10,534 public school students taking 14,788 AP exams and 5,573 exams earning a qualifying score The exam pass rate reached an all-time high of 37�7%�

In 2020-21, 8,775 students took 12,515 AP exams The pass rate was

37 4%, with 4,678 exams earning a qualifying score

AP courses are college-level courses offered by trained high school teachers Research shows AP students are better prepared for college and more likely to graduate college in four years than non-AP peers

Overall AP achievement in Mississippi increased 19 1% between 2020-21 and 2021-22 Hispanic

and African-American students achieved the greatest AP gains, with the number of Hispanic students earning a qualifying AP score of 3 or higher increasing by 45 4% and the number of African-American students achieving a qualifying score increasing by 44 4%

All eight Mississippi public universities grant 3 college credits to students with AP scores of 3 or high-

AP: Number of Exams and Number of Exams with Scores of 3, 4 or 5

2022 Mississippi - Public School

AP: Participation by Race/Ethnicity Students Taking One or More Exam

er and up to 6 credit hours for certain exam subjects with AP scores of 4 or 5 That means students who take AP courses in the 2022-23 school year can reduce the cost of attending a Mississippi university

“The number of Mississippi students participating and achieving success in AP courses has more than doubled over the past decade because districts have prioritized and expanded access to AP courses statewide,” said Dr Kim S Benton,

former interim state superintendent of education “When students are given the opportunity and support to achieve at higher levels, there is no limit to what they can accomplish ”

The Mississippi Department of Education implemented an AP Initiative in 2015-16 to increase statewide participation in AP courses

The effort includes raising awareness about AP benefits, increasing access to AP opportunities and pro-

viding AP-focused professional development for teachers, principals and counselors In addition, participation in AP and other accelerated courses is now a factor in accountability grades

Starting this school year, the Mississippi State Board of Education requires all high schools to offer and ensure students enroll in advanced courses, including AP, Cambridge International or International Baccalaureate courses

2022 Mississippi - Public School

2023 School of Innovation

Jackson Middle College Seeks to “Grow Its Own” Math Teachers

Chance Carden

Since 2015, many schools and districts across Mississippi have applied to become a School or District of Innovation through the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), a status that grants a variety of waivers and esteemed recognition to those selected Among the supports in place for those selected into the pro-

gram, the initiative allows for additional autonomy and flexibility in an effort to pioneer educational reform in the state After presenting an ambitious plan in their application, MDE named Jackson Middle College in the Jackson Public School District (JPSD) a School of Innovation for the 202324 school year

Jackson Middle College joins 18 other schools who previously earned

the distinction

Dr Chinelo Bosah Evans is the executive director of advanced academics and oversees the district’s advanced academic programs, including early college, middle college, Montessori, art integration, international baccalaureate and the Academics and Performing Arts Complex (APAC) She recalls the early efforts of district leadership to identify chal-

lenges in their school system and explore potential solutions that would warrant recognition as a District of Innovation One of those challenges was filling math teacher vacancies

“Each year, our district has 19-21 math teacher vacancies to be filled Mathematics seems to present the greatest challenge with filling teacher vacancies,” Evans said “We worked to create a District of Innovation application that would be beneficial to students and would meet the needs of our district ”

The Jackson Middle College plan centers around a partnership between JPSD and Jackson State Uni-

Opposite page: Wolf Stephenson (left) of Jackson-based Malaco Records teaches local music history to JPS students as part of the YG&E Youth Summit. Above: JPS students enjoyed learning new skills during the YG&E Youth Summit.

Jackson Public Schools (JPS) senior Mitzi Bass gives the welcome message at the Young, Gifted and Empowered (YG&E) Youth Summit.

versity (JSU)

“Scholars selected for this program would complete the first two years of college at Jackson State University via dual enrollment while simultaneously working to meet all high school graduation requirements,” Evans said

She said students in the program would major in mathematics education at no cost to the students or their families After graduation from high school, JSU would waive tuition for the final two years of college with an agreement that the students would return to JPSD to teach math for three years�

“Since there are approximately 20 mathematics vacancies in our district each year, 20 scholars will be selected to participate in the middle college program through an application and interview process,” Evans said “Jackson Middle College students will attend educator professional development sessions, serve as tutors for peers and participate in support services aimed to help them persist in college and in the workplace ”

Jackson Middle College’s innovation plan captures the spirit of contextualized, grassroots reform that is searched for when identifying Schools and Districts of Innovation

Community plays a vital role in the students’ education Community leaders teach students leadership, entrepreneurship, art, coding, photography, podcasting, fashion design and community service as part of the Young, Gifted and Empowered (YG&E) Youth Summit Now the JSU partnership is developing future math teachers for the district For Evans, the plan is bigger than just filling teacher vacancies

“The Jackson Middle College provides greater educational opportunities for students within the Jackson Public School District,” she said “It

gives scholars who are typically underrepresented in college a means to get a high-quality education without incurring debt It is also a way to connect research from the university to the practice of teaching Students who successfully complete the middle college will be well-trained, prepared and ready to make a difference

in the school district that equipped them to succeed ”

Jackson Middle College also plans to consult the district’s early college high school for guidance, “drawing lessons from the challenges and successes experienced in the implementation of that program�”

Regardless, there is much excite-

Bryan Mckenny of BM Photography teaches photography composition to JPS freshman Clarissa Coleman as part of the YG&E Youth Summit. During the summit, students learn leadership, entrepreneurship, art, coding, photography, podcasting, fashion design and community service from past YG&E honorees and community leaders.

ment and enthusiasm, as well as confidence in collaborative efforts to ensure the program’s success

“This program will help increase graduation rates, reduce achievement gaps and enhance equity in our district,” English II teacher Rhonda Murphy Johnson said

Since the program’s announce-

ment, JPSD has received an outpouring of interest and requests for enrollment

“Our team visited students who met preliminary requirements to discuss this opportunity,” Evans said “Interest surveys reveal there are more interested families than there are slots available for students� This

might mean more slots might be allocated in the future ”

Upon meeting all teacher licensure requirements, middle college graduates will be offered a position with JPSD and showcase the final stage of the innovative plan’s “grow your own” endeavor�

Mississippi Teacher Retention Survey

Offers Key Findings

for Educator Workforce Recruitment and Support

Results of the Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE’s) 2021-22 Teacher Retention Survey offered key findings for strengthening the educator workforce statewide

Out of 31,641 Mississippi teachers in the 2021-22 school year, 5,856 completed the survey The anonymous survey included 71 questions and took about 25 minutes to complete

It was conducted within MDE’s Office of Teaching and Leading and provided sample data on recruitment, onboarding, support, community involvement, school leadership and compensation among Mississippi teachers

Key survey findings showed MDE’s efforts to strengthen instruction through strategies such as Mississippi Instructional Materials Matter and Mississippi Connects had a positive impact� The survey also revealed teachers primarily learn from other teachers, the Professional Growth System (PGS) should drive professional learning and school leadership is the biggest factor in teacher retention and attrition

Concerning recruitment, 51% of

survey respondents noted they heard about open positions from a colleague or friend, while 3% became aware of positions from online job boards or a job fair Also, 47% of teachers were influenced to apply for jobs based on their geographic location, and 28% applied after having a conversation with a school leader Only 2% applied for jobs based on a recruitment event

When describing steps in their hiring process, 79% of teachers reported completing an in-person interview with the principal Far fewer teachers — 3% and 2%, respectively — reported the process included demonstrating a teaching lesson or an activity using student data

Other survey findings included teachers valuing clear communication during job onboarding and new teachers staying in the profession because they have a formally assigned mentor The majority of respondents agreed they work in a safe environment with sufficient access to instructional technology, that curriculum taught is aligned with the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Stan-

dards (MCCRS) and parents/guardians are provided useful information Only 37% of respondents agreed enough efforts are made to minimize routine paperwork on the job

Finally, while 64% of teachers reported feeling valued as a result of the new teacher pay raise for the 2022-23 school year, only 29% reported they were satisfied with their salary

MDE’s strategies to address teacher retention and attrition include:

• Continuing the Mississippi Teacher Residency program, which includes a formal mentor component

• Providing a Mentoring and Induction Toolkit that any school or district can use to create a local mentoring and induction program for new teachers and their mentors

• Aligning the Virtual and Faceto-Face Professional Development Catalog to Professional Growth System domains and standards

• Updating the Orientation to School Leadership (OSL) credits needed for conversion to a standard, renewable administrator license

MDE Announces 52 New Members to the Mississippi Principal Advisory Council

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced the addition of 52 highly regarded education professionals from across the state to serve on the Mississippi Principal Advisory Council (MPAC) for the 2022-23 school year�

The MPAC, formed in 2021, now includes 45 principals representing schools in urban and rural settings The MPAC aims to empower principals to discuss topics critical to their success as administrators and to share suggestions on how MDE can assist� In addition, members will provide feedback on a variety of MDE initiatives�

“Hearing directly from Mississippi principals is essential to better understand what achievements and challenges they experience at their respective schools,” said Dr Kim Benton, former interim state superintendent of education “I look forward to meeting all MPAC members soon to assess their needs and share MDE resources that can improve student outcomes ”

New MPAC members are as follows:

Michelle Ameen

HS

Melissa Black Marshall County SD Byhalia Elementary

Aimee Brewer Oxford SD Bramlett Elementary

Jennifer Brunetz Madison County SD Ridgeland HS

Valarie Buford Oxford SD

Della Davidson Elementary

Eddie Butler Greenville Public SD T L Weston Middle School

Lindsey Byerley Harrison County SD D’Iberville Elementary

Audrey Carroll Jackson Public SD

Cathy Coleman (Sparks)

Tiffany Davis

Miketa Davis-Smith

April Dill

Public SD

HS

Hayes Cooper Center

Kindergarten Preparatory School

HS

CTC/Starkville HS

Deanna Dumas Scott County SD Bettye Mae Jack Middle School

Cora Evans Tishomingo County SD Iuka Middle School

Jessica Ferguson Pearl Public SD Northside Elementary

Corey Garcia Ocean Springs SD Ocean Springs HS

Tiffany Gordon Rankin County SD Florence Elementary

Jon Graham Vicksburg Warren SD Academy of Innovation

Ashley Hawkins ������������������������ Biloxi Public SD ������������������������������������������������

Tessa Hughes Rankin County SD

Ashley Jarrell Gulfport SD

Meredith Jierski Clinton Public SD

Kimberly Langley New Albany SD

Jennifer Loshelder Clinton Public SD

Ashley Martin Oxford SD

Ashley McGee-Smith Jackson Public SD

Back Bay Elementary

Northwest Rankin HS

Twenty-Eighth Street Elementary

Northside Elementary

School of Career and Technical Education

Eastside Elementary

Oxford HS

Callaway HS

Vijay Pacharne Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated SD Starkville HS

Stephanie Peabody Clinton Public SD

Dane Peagler Rankin County SD

Anna Katherine Peel Gulfport SD

Chrissy Rester Picayune SD

Demi Roberts ���������������������������� Baldwyn SD ������������������������������������������������������

Elizabeth Rogers Scott County SD

Melissa Sanzin �������������������������� Long Beach SD

Emily Schallock

Tishomingo County SD

Hannah Smith Bay St Louis-Waveland SD

Shalia Smith Jackson Public SD

George Stewart II Jackson Public SD

Alicia Stringer Rankin County SD

Alice Stringer Pearl Public SD

Kristian Swearingen Neshoba County SD

Mary Hill Taylor Choctaw Tribal School System

Kristen Tillman Desoto County SD

Terri Tyler Harrison County SD

Jenn Tynes ��������������������������������� Poplarville Separate SD �����������������������������������

Tammy White Long Beach SD

Northside Elementary

Brandon HS

Pass Road Elementary

Picayune Junior HS

Baldwyn HS

Bettye Mae Jack Middle School

Thomas L� Reeves Elementary

Belmont School

Crossroads Learning Center

Lanier HS

Whitten Middle School

Florence Elementary

Pearl Junior HS

Neshoba Central Middle School

Choctaw Central HS

Southaven Intermediate

West Harrison Middle School

Middle School of Poplarville

Long Beach Middle School

Jennifer “Paige” Whitten ���������� Oxford SD ���������������������������������������������������������� Oxford HS

Cristyn Wilson Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated SD

Jane Amber Wohslcheid West Jasper Consolidated SD

Sona Yeddula Holmes County Consolidated SD

Haley Young Long Beach SD

Armstrong Junior HS

Bay Springs Elementary

Holmes County Central HS

Long Beach Middle School

Petal Teacher Receives Milken Award

When Petal, seniors receive an extra ticket for their graduation ceremony, many of them know exactly who they will invite: their fifth grade teacher, Tyler Shows

It is an honor reserved for only a few teachers, and Shows is one of them His commitment to his students, creativity in the classroom and leadership throughout the community were celebrated in October when Shows was surprised at Petal Upper Elementary School with a $25,000 Milken Educator Award presented by

the Milken Family Foundation

Hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching,” Milken Educator Awards inspire and uplift with the unique stories of educators making a profound difference for students, colleagues and communities� First presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987, the awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in edu-

cation Recipients are heralded in early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish

Shows received the award at a schoolwide assembly of cheering students, appreciative colleagues, local dignitaries and media

A 2008 Petal High School graduate, Shows instills a love for math in his students, connecting their learning to the real world Shows focuses on concepts underlying each lesson, building student confidence and inspiring

Petal Upper Elementary School (PUES) fifth grade teacher Tyler Shows, third from left, is welcomed to the family of Milken Educator Award recipients by Aaron Wilson (MS ‘08); Dr. Jane Foley (IN ‘94), senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards; Dr. Jerry Morgan (MS ‘99); and Kathryn Daniels (MS ‘19), a district colleague who teaches at nearby Petal High School. (Photo courtesy of Milken Family Foundation)

them to rise to high expectations�

He keeps students engaged through hands-on learning, such as writing on their desks with dry-erase markers and games like Trashketball, Stinky Feed and Draw Down

Shows gauges his students’ strengths and weaknesses, helping them transition from fourth grade and using assessment data to guide their next steps to success�

His students have shown growth, achieving 116% of projected growth on the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments from fall 2021 to spring 2022 and rating among Mississippi’s top MAP scores

Shows, who returned to the district in 2014, helped Petal Upper grow from a D into an A-rated district and maintain that rating through the devastation caused by a tornado in 2017 and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

“Petal Upper Elementary School educators have experienced so many challenges recently, from a tornado in 2017 to the pandemic Thanks to Tyler and so many other incredible teachers, they have found ways to rise above and maintain an excellent learning community for their students,” said Dr Jane Foley, senior vice president of the Milken Educator Awards and a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator “Tyler is building a positive legacy of education here in his hometown school district, and for that, we honor him today�”

Shows serves as a grade-level chair and leads a professional learning community of math teachers who develop standards-aligned lessons, create assessments and track data He also organizes professional development, leads instructional rounds and facilitates feedback along with mentoring new and pre-service teachers

The National Board Certified Exceptional Needs Specialist helps grow the next generation of educators by hosting the district’s Teacher Academy students and serving as a pro-

fessional

When schools had to go virtual during the pandemic, Shows led Pet-

learning facilitator in the University of Southern Mississippi’s World Class Teaching Program

PUES students give high-fives to Shows after he was named a Milken Educator Award recipient in a surprise ceremony at the school. (Photo courtesy of Milken Family Foundation)

Students congratulate Shows following the ceremony recognizing him as a Milken Educator Award recipient. (Photo courtesy of Milken Family Foundation)

Above: Shows shares his joy with PUES students as he goes to accept his Milken Educator Award. (Photo courtesy of Milken Family Foundation) Right: Dr. Kim Benton, former Mississippi interim state superintendent of education, congratulates Shows on being named a Milken Educator Award recipient during a surprise ceremony at PUES. Often referred to as the “Oscars of Teaching,” the Milken Educator Awards have rewarded and inspired excellence in the world of education by honoring top educators around the country with $25,000 to be used however they wish. (Photo courtesy of Milken Family Foundation)

al Upper’s Panthers Online program that offered video tutorials and virtual learning opportunities�

“I applaud Mr� Shows for having an intentional focus of daily bringing

real-world experiences into the classroom to instill a love of learning and build confidence,” said Dr� Kim Benton, Mississippi’s former interim state superintendent of education “Not only

does he inspire students, but he also pays it forward by working with his high school’s Teacher Academy and by mentoring colleagues through the National Board Certification process ”

National Report Finds Mississippi’s 3rd Grade Promotion Law Leads to Early Literacy Gains

A new report from Boston University’s Wheelock Educational Policy Center found that Mississippi students retained in the third grade under the Literacy-Based Promotion Act achieved higher English Language Arts (ELA) scores over time

The report reviewed ELA scores and later academic outcomes from the first cohort of third graders promoted and retained under the Literacy-Based Promotion Act The study compared the results between students narrowly promoted to the fourth grade and students narrowly retained in the third grade

The study showed that, by sixth grade, students who only just fell short of the promotion benchmark had substantial and sustained literacy gains on their ELA scores compared to their peers who made the fourth grade promotion cut-off These literacy gains were especially significant among African American and Hispanic students in the cohort Results also indicate that the law had no significant impact on student absences or special education identification in the sixth grade Students who were retained did not appear to experience other negative con-

sequences as a result of their retention

Mississippi’s literacy law was created to help ensure kindergarten through third grade students develop good reading skills� The law requires all Mississippi third grade public school students to pass a reading assessment to qualify for promotion to fourth grade, unless the student meets one of the good cause exemptions specified in the law In the 2021-22 school year, 85% of Mississippi third graders passed the third grade reading assessment after the final retest

Research has shown that without a basic mastery of early literacy, students in fourth grade and above struggle to stay on track in their other courses and are less likely to graduate from high school

The Literacy-Based Promotion Act takes a comprehensive approach to building the capacity of teachers and school leaders to effectively teach reading and implement an ongoing system to monitor student progress The law provides funding for the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) to deploy literacy coaches to schools where data show students struggle the most

with reading MDE coaches work directly with teachers and administrators to help them become more effective teachers of reading

Mississippi’s focus on literacy and high academic standards have made the state a national leader for improving student outcomes� In 2019, Mississippi achieved the No 1 spot in the nation for gains on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) when fourth grade students made the largest score gains from 2017 to 2019 in reading and mathematics

In 2022, Mississippi maintained its historic gains in NAEP fourth grade reading, while scores nationally dropped in all four NAEP subjects and grades

“The results in Mississippi are undeniable,” said Patricia Levesque, chief executive officer of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, which commissioned the study “By committing to early literacy mastery, Mississippi is preparing students for long-term academic success Other states can follow Mississippi’s example by adopting policies that end social promotion and, equally important, require instruction based on the science of reading�”

Mississippi’s Graduation Rate Reaches All-Time High of 88.9%

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) released the 2021-22 school year graduation and dropout rates, which reflect the highest statewide graduation rate of 88 9% and a statewide dropout rate of 9%

Rates are based on students who entered ninth grade for the first time during the 2018-19 school year Among students with disabilities, the graduation rate increased to 67 1%, and the dropout rate was 19 3%

MDE’s latest figures mark a continuing positive trend for Mississippi’s students The statewide graduation rate was 74 5% in 2014 and has increased annually The statewide dropout has decreased from 13 9% in 2014

The current dropout rate figures reflect a 5% increase from 2020-21 and a �9% increase among students with disabilities The graduation rate does not include students who earn a GED or a certificate of completion or who are still enrolled in their fifth year of high school There were fewer students in those categories in 2021-22 than the previous year, which attributed to the increased dropout rate

Mississippi’s graduation rate exceeds the latest U S rate of 86 5% from 2019-20 reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

The MDE has implemented various programs and initiatives to help students stay in school and earn their diplomas Several factors that may have contributed to the overall improvement of the graduation and

dropout rates include the following:

Endorsements – High school students can earn an endorsement with their high school diploma

Starting in ninth grade, students choose whether they want to work toward a traditional diploma or take additional classes to earn an academic, distinguished academic or career and technical education endorsement Students can earn more than one endorsement

Each diploma option prepares students to be successful after graduation, whether in the workforce, a career and technical training program, the military or college

Students who earn an academic or distinguished academic diploma endorsement from a public high school automatically qualify for admission into any of the state’s public universities The endorsement

opportunity was phased in during the 2018-19 school year and was fully implemented at the end of 2021-22

Mississippi Early Warning System – The MDE developed this program in 2016 that offers guidance to school districts and schools to identify, support and monitor atrisk students in grades K-12 Students who need assistance to reach graduation and be ready for college and career receive intervention

Pandemic disruptions have also had an impact on the graduation rate� Due to COVID-19, the passing requirements for high school Algebra I, English II, Biology and U S History assessments were waived in 2020-21� This will affect the graduation rate until all students who tested under the waivers graduate

Two Mississippi Schools Named 2023 National ESEA

Distinguished Schools

D’Iberville Elementary School in the Harrison County School District and Pearl Lower Elementary School in the Pearl Public School District have been named the 2023 National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished Schools for Mississippi

A project of the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA), the National ESEA Distinguished School program recognizes up to 100 schools annually for exceptional student achievement in three categories: exceptional student performance and academic growth, closing the achievement gap between student

groups or excellence in serving special populations of students�

D’Iberville Elementary School earned its recognition for student performance and academic growth Pearl Lower Elementary School earned recognition for excellence in serving special populations of students

“I congratulate the teachers, staff and leaders of D’Iberville Elementary School and Pearl Lower Elementary School for earning national recognition for improving academic outcomes while meeting the needs of all students,” said Dr Kim Benton, the former interim state superintendent of education “Mississippi’s 2023

ESEA National Distinguished Schools are models of academic excellence�”

NAESPA implements the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program to highlight selected schools that have successfully used their ESEA federal funds to improve the education of all students, including economically disadvantaged students The schools were honored during the National ESEA Conference held in February in Indianapolis, Indiana

More information about all National ESEA Distinguished Schools is available on the ESEA Network website: eseanetwork org/ds

PGSD Event Empowers Students With Soft Skills for Future Success

Five years ago, Pascagoula-Gautier College and Career Technical Institute (PGCCTI) Director Derek Read — in conjunction with other education leaders in Jackson County — began incorporating lessons in soft skills for Pascagoula-Gautier School District (PGSD) students

What began as a guide to navigating the workplace for PGCCTI students quickly grew to encompass all students in the district

Efforts to build these necessary skills begin in seventh grade, when students go through MajorClarity career alignment surveys and Franklin

Covey’s Leader in Me training during Keystone By high school, PGSD students are exposed to Bridge Academy pathways and lessons from PGSD’s own career textbook

The soft skills training culminates in a You’re Hired! event created especially for Jackson County 11th graders

“We want our students to be enrolled, employed or enlisted when they leave here,” Read said “This event gets them closer to making that happen ”

This year, PGSD is celebrating its fifth year of hosting the event, which included Gautier College and Career Readiness (CCR) students as well The event takes place at PGCCTI

Each student arrives at You’re

Hired! dressed and prepared for a job interview in their desired field Students move in groups through seminars hosted by local business and industry leaders and complete an interview with a professional aligned with the student’s area of interest

Any You’re Hired! attendee who has been to a conference — professional or otherwise — would recognize the planning and execution of the PGSD event as that of a professional development or networking conference Culinary students prepare and serve lunch to business and industry partners who have come to host seminars or interview students Classrooms are arranged to accommodate presenta-

Heather Craig

tions, and students and teachers follow a prepared schedule for the day

As the years have passed, You’re Hired! has included more seminars and speakers to encompass areas local employers have identified as needed for student success in the workplace This year the seminars covered everything from interview framing and

proper interview attire to social media responsibility, background checks and breathing and relaxation techniques

Interview professionals provide feedback to students based on a rubric, scoring the students on dress attire, communication skills, eye contact and their discussion on the career they selected for the interview The

students who best represent a desirable interview hire received Walmart gift cards

“This is the first time I have seen both sides of the event,” Jackson County Chamber of Commerce CEO Paige Roberts said “This year I hosted the breathing and relaxation sessions in addition to helping with the event

Opposite page: Jackson County Chamber of Commerce CEO Paige Roberts leads a seminar on breathing and relaxation techniques seminar for Pascagoula-Gautier School District (PGSD) students at the You’re Hired! Event hosted by the Pascagoula-Gautier College and Career Technical Institute (PGCCTI). Top: Tim Jenkins (left) and Dan Nelson, both operations and maintenance employees at the Chevron Pascagoula Refinery, interview a PGSD student. Above: PGSD student Justin Tuck (middle) is interviewed by Bonita Oliver, a NASA chief information security officer, and Eric Pegues, an AT&T customer service manager.

behind the scenes ”

After acting as an interviewer at a similar event in Gulfport several years ago, Roberts brought the idea of a You’re Hired! event back to her own Jackson County With the help of Read and his team at PGCCTI, the event has grown to what it is today�

“I tell these students, ‘You’ll never have a first interview again after today,’” Roberts says “They may be nervous; they may not do well, but they’ll never have another first interview again — they’ll know what to expect They can win a gift card at the end of the day if they do well, but nothing bad happens here if they don’t do as well as the next interviewee They receive a rubric with feedback to help them in the future, but they aren’t missing out on an opportunity by not winning It’s all about getting that first experience out of the way ”

Erika Reynolds and Jana Odom, PGCCTI’s student services coordinators, do much of the logistical work behind the event and are proud and relieved when the event comes together Reynolds says You’re Hired! is by far one of

her favorite activities at PGCCTI

“It’s so much better for them to go through the interview with a person they don’t know,” Reynolds said “They see me [at PGCCTI] and know me, so interviewing with me would not be as much of a challenge as a ‘real’ interview”

Indeed, the business and industry leaders invited to participate in You’re Hired! are as invested as PGSD

Lauri-Ellen Smith, a public relations practitioner who owns a consulting business and works for the Mississippi Public Service Commission-Southern District, is one such business leader Each year, Smith hosts the Elevator Pitch seminar to help students uncover their passions and talk about them in a clear, concise way that will help sell their strengths in an interview or other professional encounter�

“They are just wonderful! So full of passion and promise,” Smith said of the students� “I enjoy seeing them come alive when they talk about their dreams ”

Smith sees her participation in You’re Hired! as giving students permission to dream

“Every generation has its thing,

right? For them, it’s being [stuck behind screens] during the pandemic Maybe their parents have taught them to be practical because they were hit hard during the economic downturn in 2008 I appreciate that I get to help students dream and think about avocation in addition to vocation,” Smith said

Smith moves quickly through each seminar session because she wants to hear from the students She spends most of the session giving students a chance to share their interests and providing feedback on how to turn that passion into a career� Some are too shy to share, but most relish the opportunity to share what even their peers may not know about them�

Roberts agrees with Smith that PGSD students’ faces reveal all when it comes to the You’re Hired! event’s effect on their confidence She notes that many of them remain stoic as they receive their gift card and receive recognition in front of their classmates at the closing ceremony, “but you can see in their eyes that they are proud of themselves,” she said

Lauri-Ellen Smith, owner Cat 5 Crisis Communications, leads PGSD students in a session on giving an elevator pitch.

SBE Awards 11 School Districts With $15 Million in Grants for New State Invested Pre-K Programs

The Mississippi State Board of Education awarded $15,450,000 in grants to 11 school districts to implement new State Invested Pre-K (SIP) programs

During the 2022 legislative session, the Mississippi Legislature appropriated $20 million in new state funding to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) to provide grant opportunities to Other Early Learning Programs through public schools, including public school pre-kindergarten programs not participating in MDE’s Early Learning Collaboratives (ELCs) The remaining funds will be used for overall management of the SIP program, including hiring coaches, financial management and coordination of the program during the grant period began in November and runs

through June 30, 2025

SIP programs will expand MDE’s offering of high-quality pre-K programs and have the capacity to serve 1,000 4-yearold children in 50 classrooms in school districts that are not part of an ELC� However, just like the ELCs, SIP programs will meet all 10 National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) benchmarks: use of early learning standards, curriculum supports, teacher degree, teacher specialized training, assistant teacher degree, staff professional development, maximum class size, staff-child ratio, screenings and referrals and a continuous quality improvement system

Partnerships with local child care centers or Head Start grantees were

not a condition for receiving SIP grants but were incentivized as a criterion for extra points in the application process� Pending the availability of funds, districts will continue to receive funding in years two through three of the program provided they successfully complete services from the preceding fiscal year’s grant

The new Mississippi Beginnings: Pre-K curriculum, intended to support any preschool teacher in providing rich, play-based, intentional developmentally appropriate instructions, will be implemented in MDE’s ELCs and the new SIP programs

View the chart below to see the grantee SIP districts and funding allocations for each: