Shealy named to statewide advisory council of public-school leaders

Chad Shealy, superintendent of the Vicksburg-Warren School District, has been named to the state’s Administrator Advisory Council of public-school leaders.

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann announced the formation and members of the council Friday, Jan. 17, in a press release. Hosemann indicated the move was part of a promise he made on the campaign trail to “seek input from Mississippi’s public educators when considering legislation impacting public schools.”

Shealy was among 19 public-school leaders from across the state to be named to the council.

“For Mississippi to succeed, our public schools must succeed,” Hosemann said in the release. “This requires us to listen to educators and address their needs. I look forward to working with this group and other administrators to continue advancing student achievement and supporting our schools.”

Hosemann plans to name a separate advisory council of teachers in early February.

The Advisory Council includes representatives from each of nine regions: Northeast, Golden Triangle, East Central, Pine Belt, Coast, Capital Area, Southwest, Delta and North Mississippi. It includes superintendents; elementary, middle and high school principals; and career and technical, special education, and curriculum and instruction directors.

“One of the most important things we can do for educators is listen to them and remove barriers in the way of the important work they are doing,” said state Senate Education Chairman Dennis DeBar, Jr. (R-Leakesville) in the release. “By keeping this group and other education organizations in the loop, we can more effectively share ideas and implement better policy to support our schools and students.”

Working with Chairman DeBar and Vice Chairman David Blount (D-Jackson), Hosemann’s team will keep the Advisory Council informed about legislation relevant to public schools as the Senate moves throughout the 2020 legislative session. Hosemann has asked members to share concerns they may be grappling with in their districts. During the summertime, Hosemann plans to call on members to participate in various study groups to examine potential legislation for the 2021 legislative session.

“I applaud Lt. Gov. Hosemann for naming an advisory council of school principals and administrators to help guide our legislative work,” Blount said in the release. “All of us at the capitol need to hear from the leaders who are in the schools every day. I am hopeful we can build a new relationship of trust and partnership on behalf of all our Mississippi public schools.”

Members of Hosemann’s Administrator Advisory Council are:

• Lee Childress, Superintendent, Corinth School District (Northeast)
• Raymond Craven, Assistant Superintendent, Baldwyn School District (Northeast)
• Lenora Hogan, Director, Millsaps Career & Technical Center (Golden Triangle), Starkville-Oktibbeha School District
• Cherie Labat, Superintendent, Columbus Municipal School District (Golden Triangle)
• Howard Savage, Principal, Quitman High School (East Central), Quitman School District
• Cody Killen, Principal, Neshoba Central Middle School (East Central), Neshoba County School District
• Robert Williams, Hattiesburg Public School District (Pine Belt)
• Helen Price, Principal, Oak Grove High School (Pine Belt), Lamar County School District
• Charles Breland, Superintendent, Greene County School District (Pine Belt)
• Wayne Rodolfich, Superintendent, Pascagoula-Gautier School District (Coast)
• Nicole Menotti, Director, Curriculum & Instruction (Coast), Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District
• Chad Shealy, Superintendent, Vicksburg Warren School District (Southwest)
• Mickey Myers (*until retirement at the end of the 2020 School Year), Superintendent, Lincoln County School District (Southwest)
• Jeremy Peagler (*after Superintendent Myers’ retirement), Principal, Loyd Star Elementary, Lincoln County School District
• Lori G. Torrey, Principal, Spann Elementary School (Capital Area), Jackson Public School District
• Charlotte Seals, Superintendent, Madison County School District (Capital Area)
• Joe Nelson, Superintendent, Clarksdale Municipal School District (Delta)
• Laquita Moore, Director, Special Education (Delta), Tunica County School District
• Sherry Anderson, Principal, Lewisburg Elementary School (North), DeSoto County School District
• Adam Pugh, Superintendent, Lafayette County School District (North)