Mississippi Department of Education

CONGRATULATIONS! MDE has announced the addition of 23 highly regarded education professionals from across the state to serve on the Mississippi Principal Advisory Council for the 2024-25 school year. Get details at bit.ly/3Nt5eTj. #MsEdu

CONGRATULATIONS! Today, four Mississippi schools were among 356 named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. This prestigious recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups. Get details at bit.ly/4eRCjUD. #MsEdu

Today, MDE released accountability grades for the 2023-24 school year, which show 85.7% of schools and 93.9% of districts earned a grade of C or higher. The largest-ever share of Mississippi districts are now rated A, B or C. Get details at bit.ly/3B8PUs1 #MsEdu

States continue to grapple with persistent teacher shortages, but Mississippi’s successful efforts in implementing a teacher residency program is highlighted in a recent report from the Learning Policy Institute. Residencies are a proven strategy for improving the quality of preparation while also providing a long-term solution to teacher shortages. Review the report at bit.ly/4dfsEqf. #MsEdu #TeacherResidencies #TeacherPrep #TeacherShortages 

Mississippi Class of 2025 high school graduates can apply for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The deadline to mail in the application to MDE is Oct. 11. Get details at bit.ly/4dEiM9K. #MsEdu

MDE names 45 new members to the Mississippi Teacher Advisory Council, which aims to empower teachers to discuss topics critical to their success in the classroom and how MDE can assist. Get details at bit.ly/3yIpnkq. #MsEdu

Registration is open to the Mississippi Literacy Association Conference set for Dec. 4-6 in Biloxi. Call for Proposal deadline is Sept. 20. Get details at bit.ly/46MX0hB. #MsEdu

MDE is hiring for the following career opportunities: - Education Program Development Team Lead (K-12 State Social Studies Director) (Office of Secondary Education) - closes August 21, 2024 - Research/Data Analyst III (Office of Child Nutrition) - closes August 20, 2024 - Accountant III (Office of Special Education) - closes August 30, 2024 - Procurement Team Leader (Office of Procurement) - closes August 20, 2024 - Education Program Development Team Lead (Preschool Development Grant Family Engagement/Transition Regional Coordinator) (Office of Early Childhood) - closes August 19, 2024 - Education Program Development Team Lead (Preschool Development Grant Early Childhood General Education Regional Coordinator- Southeast) (Office of Early Childhood) - closes August 22, 2024 - Program Specialist IV (Preschool Development Grant Early Childhood General Education Coach- Northeast) (Office of Early Childhood) - closes August 22, 2024 - Program Specialist IV (Preschool Development Grant Early Childhood General Education Coach- Northwest) (Office of Early Childhood) - closes August 26, 2024 - Program Specialist IV (Preschool Development Grant Early Childhood General Education Coach- Central) (Office of Early Childhood) - closes August 22, 2024 - Education Program Development Team Lead (Professional Learning Specialist) (Office of Early Childhood) - closes August 22, 2024 - Program Specialist IV (Preschool Development Grant Early Childhood General Education Coach - Central) (Office of Early Childhood) - closes August 20, 2024   Contractual Career Opportunity - CTE Monitoring Specialist (Office of Career and Technical Education) - closes August 16, 2024 See details at https://lnkd.in/eR-rht5j. #MsEdu

Today, the Mississippi State Board of Education awarded $4,725,000 in grants to five school districts -- Benton County School District, Forrest County School District, Moss Point School District, Neshoba County School District, and Simpson County School District -- to implement new State Invested Pre-K programs for 4-year-old children. Get details at bit.ly/4crOKVd. #MsEdu

Today, the Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) recognized Cason Brinkley, a junior at Cleveland Central High School in the Cleveland School District, who flew his first solo fight on July 15. At age 16, Cason is believed to be the youngest African American to solo a plane in Mississippi. Next year, Cason will apply to the youth aviation program at the Auburn University School of Aviation, where he aspires to earn his professional flight degree. In addition to his accomplishments in aviation, Cason excels in school with a 3.82 GPA and was voted class president for the Class of 2026. The Mississippi Department of Education is currently working to add aviation to the state’s career and technical education offerings, which will enable students to receive flight, drone, and grounds crew training through their high school. The aviation program will be available for schools to implement starting in the 2025-26 school year. Cason is pictured with SBE Chair Glen East, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Lance Evans, and his parents, Carl and Markeita Brinkley. #MsEdu