feature
f
long the best practices and theory; we
be addressed at that adolescent age
across the state. That’s an exciting
can even demonstrate it — and we do
to make a difference and keep them
prospect, and it’s definitely a situation
— to them, but it doesn’t mean any-
focused and successful. Right now,
thing until they see it for themselves
we can reduce the dropout risk for
in the classroom.”
students with positive middle school
“The way we change the state of
That live look inside classrooms,
experiences and fuel their desire to
Mississippi is through education,
Peasant said, fundamentally changes
complete their education. Knowing
a teacher’s first-day perspective as a
we’re expecting children to do things
professional, and having cohorts of
different [at PMS] means we have to
better-prepared middle school teach-
get them ready for that experience,
to teach once they graduate,” Shaw
ers could even change how the school
and that experience also opens doors
said. “Everyone looks at this as the
district prepares students as they tran-
for them in high school they might not
Partnership School benefiting the
sition to and from those key grades.
have access to before.
we’re happy to be part of.”
and the way we change education is by putting out people that are ready
school district, but we, from the uni-
“We’re very fortunate to have this
“For our teachers, [the MSU partner-
versity’s standpoint, know we’re a
opportunity to enhance the work we’re
ship] is about growth for them, too,”
greater beneficiary. It’s fantastic to see
doing for middle schoolers, and there
Peasant added. “They’re going to get
needs to be sufficient training because
knowledge and training from univer-
that age group is so different than [ele-
sity faculty, of course, but they’re also
mentary and high school groups],” he
going to be mentors for future teach-
college students learning firsthand
said. “There are things that have to
ers heading to our district and others
what it’s like to be a teacher.”
sixth and seventh graders there every day, but it warms my heart when I see
MDE Announces New Teacher Advisory Council Members The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced the addition of more than 100 experienced and highly regarded professionals from across the state to serve on the Mississippi Teacher Advisory Council (MTAC) during the 2020-2021 academic year. The MTAC, formed in 2016, now has more than 300 educators representing schools in urban and rural settings and an array of content areas, including general education, arts, special education and career and technical education. The purpose of the MTAC is to provide feedback to Dr. Carey Wright, the state
Highlighted counties indicate areas rep-
superintendent of education, on the initiatives of the MDE, the Mississippi State
resented by the teachers added to the
Board of Education and the Mississippi State Legislature. Wright meets with teach-
Mississippi Teacher Advisory Council
ers regularly. The MTAC aims to empower teachers to discuss topics critical to their
during the 2020-2021 academic year.
success in the classroom and how the MDE can assist. “Over the last four years, I have greatly valued the feedback from teachers across this state through our meetings. The MDE has provided professional development opportunities, resources and changes in policy based in part on conversations I’ve had with members of the MTAC,” Wright said. “I look forward to hearing from our new members as we work collaboratively on behalf of students.” Winter 2021
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School Focus
