April 18, 2014
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Board of Education named Jo Ann Malone, state administrator and former teacher, as the new superintendent of the Mississippi School for the Blind, effective June 1.
Malone, a Flora resident, taught grades 7-12 mathematics, business and pre-vocational education courses at the school from 2001-2006. She joined the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Student Assessment in 2006 as a division director, and in 2012, she moved to her current position as director of accountability systems in the Office of Accreditation.
A licensed administrator, Malone is certified in visually impaired K-12 instruction, special education - mild/moderate K-12, special education - severe/profound K-12, mathematics 7-12, business education 7-12, elementary education 4-8, and English 7-12. Malone said she is honored to be given the opportunity to assist the MDE with its vision of creating a world-class educational system for all students.
“As superintendent of the Mississippi School for the Blind, my goal is to ensure that the blind and visually impaired students at MSB and around the state are provided with the education and resources that they need to be successful in college, in the workforce, and in the community,” she said.
Malone earned her undergraduate degree from Belhaven University and master’s degree in special education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Delta State University.
She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the PARCC Accessibility, Accommodations and Fairness Operational Working Group and the Mississippi Library Commission’s Blind and Physically Handicapped Services.
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519