State Board of Education names Dr. Ray Morgigno Interim State Superintendent of Education

The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) has announced Dr. Ray Morgigno as the upcoming interim state superintendent of education. Starting from July 1, he will succeed Mike Kent, who held the position on an interim basis from Apr. 3 to June 30.

Dr. Morgigno brings an impressive career of almost 30 years in Mississippi’s public education system, having worked his way up from a teacher and assistant principal to a principal and district superintendent. Notably, he led the Pearl Public School District for 12 years, resulting in the district achieving an A-rating for the first time in 2017. Currently, Dr. Morgigno serves as the executive director of the East Mississippi Center for Educational Development, showcasing his ongoing commitment to education.

In addition to his contributions to education, Dr. Morgigno has dedicated over 20 years to the Mississippi Army National Guard as an officer. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Delta State University, followed by a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Mississippi and a doctorate in educational administration from Mississippi State University.

Glen East, the SBE vice-chair, commends Dr. Morgigno’s extensive experience in Mississippi’s public education system and expresses confidence in his ability to continue the state’s advancements in this field. The SBE will collaborate with McPherson & Jacobson, LLC, to conduct a comprehensive search for a permanent state superintendent of education. The application window for this role will be open from August 14 to October 19, 2023. During this period, the SBE aims to gather valuable input by distributing surveys among educators, lawmakers, business and community leaders, and the general public. The goal is to identify the desired qualities and priorities for the next state superintendent of education. The selection of the final candidate will take place by the end of 2023.

On May 18, the SBE made the decision to allow individuals serving as interim state superintendents to be eligible for the permanent position. The appointment process will be completed upon receiving Senate confirmation during the 2024 legislative session.