April 12, 2016
WHO: The Mississippi Department of Education and the Mississippi Teacher Center will announce the 2016 Mississippi Teacher of the Year (MTOY) and the Mississippi Administrator of the Year (MAOY) at an annual luncheon. Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, is scheduled to speak, as well as the 2015 National Teacher of the Year, Shanna Peeples.
WHAT: The Teacher Center recognizes outstanding educators from across the state. Each school district selects a District Teacher of the Year and District Administrator of the Year. Following an intensive selection process, four congressional district winners are chosen from district award recipients. Finally, one teacher earns the MTOY recognition and one administrator earns the MAOY recognition.
WHEN: Thursday, April 14, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Jackson Marriott
WHY: Mississippi's Teacher of the Year receives a one-time $5,000 salary supplement from the Mississippi Department of Education and represents Mississippi in the National Teacher of the Year competition. Mississippi’s Administrator of the Year also receives a $5,000 stipend.
The MAOY and MTOY will be selected from four congressional district finalists. The four congressional district finalists in each category are as follows:
Administrator of the Year Finalists
- Corlis Curry - Tupelo Public School District, Principal of Lawhon Elementary School
- Kimberly Davenport - Hinds County School District, Principal of Main Street RESTART Center
- Robert Sanders - Simpson County School District, Principal of Mendenhall High School
- Robert Williams - Hattiesburg Public School District, Principal of N. R. Burger Middle School
Teacher of the Year Finalists
- Brigit Burt, Chickasaw County School District, Houlka Attendance Center, 6th Grade Reading and Language Arts
- Patricia Kirkpatrick, Cleveland School District, Margaret Green Junior High School, 8th Grade U. S. History
- Vicki Adcock, Lauderdale County School District, Clarkdale Middle School, 6th and 7th Grade Language Arts and Reading
- Jodi Leigh McKenzie, Pascagoula-Gautier School District, Gautier High School, English 9-12
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519