MPE JOURNAL
www.mpe.org
Winter 2024 Vol. 36 No. 3
Issues to be Considered in the School Choice Conversation
Office Staff
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Dr. Melissa Bufkin 467 Myrick-Strengthford Road Laurel, MS 39443 601-433-1759 mabufkin@jonesk12.org
President-elect Dr. Tracey Gregory 1500 Peachtree Street Jackson, MS 39202 662-231-1571 tgregory@belhaven.edu Past-President Chris Chism 317 Grandview Court Pearl, MS 39208 662-549-0257 cchism@pearlk12.com
Kelly Riley Executive Director kelly@mpe.org Barbie Ferguson Deputy Director barbie@mpe.org Stephanie Miller Accounts Manager stephanie@mpe.org Kathy Goldsmith Office Manager kathy@mpe.org Jessica Ridgeway Receptionist jessica@mpe.org
Secretary-Treasurer Amy Massey 314 Walter Lott Seminary, MS 39479 601-325-6611 amy.massey@lamarcountyschools.org District 1 JoDeana Patterson 6555 Hwy 178 E Fulton, MS 38843 662-231-6656 dpatterson@itawambacountyschools.com District 3 Bettie Martinek 169 Oak Drive Greenville, MS 38701 662-347-0095 bettie.martinek1@gmail.com District 5 Dr. Cody Killen 10181 Road 1519 Philadelphia, MS 39350 601-562-4570 codykillen@gmail.com District 7 Dr. Alicia Conerly 2115 Pricedale Drive SE Bogue Chitto, MS 39629 601-383-6360 alicia.conerly@gmail.com Community College Jason Shows 117 J.P. Parker Road Laurel, MS 39443 601-580-4390 shows.jason123@gmail.com Retirees Dr. Tommye Henderson 140 Pinehaven Place Clinton, MS 39056 601- 331-2874 tommyec.henderson@gmail.com Executive Director Kelly Riley 222 North President Street Suite 100 601-573-6169 kelly@mpe.org
District 2 Jason Reid 1111 Aquila Cir N. Olive Branch, MS 38654 662-313-3062 jason.daniel.reid@gmail.com District 4 April Dill 661 Center Grove Rd. Maben, MS 39750 662-436-8307 adill@starkvillesd.com District 6 Princess Thompson 374 Audubon Circle Brandon, MS 39047 601-500-0688 pthompson@madison-schools.com District 8 Crystal T. Wade 2413 Jones Street Gulfport, MS 39507 228-896-6309 crystal.t.wade@gmail.com
2 0 2 4 2 0 2 5
AREA DIRECTORS
Lana Brown 59 Melanie Rd.
Regina Reddoch 7429 Hwy 84 West Taylorsville, MS 39168 (C) 601-577-1906 reginareddoch.mpe@gmail.com Dr. Kim P. Roberts 96 Coopers Crossing Pontotoc, MS 38863 (C) 662-418-9472 kimroberts.mpe@gmail.com Deloris Trotter 45 Summit Ridge Drive Brandon, MS 39042 (C)662-571-9657 scottdeloris09@gmail.com Gloria White 119 Swan Dr. Greenwood, MS 38930 662-299-7185 gloriawhite5353@gmail.com Kris Winter 1967 Oak Forest Rd. Pontotoc, MS 38863 662-488-1740 kpwinter1010@gmail.com
Curtis, MS 39120 (C) 601-807-1103 lanabrown64.lb@gmail.com
University Robin Atwood 405 Walnut Street Hattiesburg, MS 39401 601-266-5066 robin.atwood@usm.edu Rep.-at-Large Monica Mitchell 115 Briarwood Drive Senatobia, MS 38668 668-402-1346 msleavy@yahoo.com
Lorinda Cochran 633 Arbor Station Dr. Long Beach, MS 39560 (C)601-394-7989 lorindacochranmpe@gmail.com Tracy Dearing 2936 Liberty Church Rd Newton, MS 39345 601-479-0205 tbdearing@live.com Shannon Eubanks 330 Nations Lane SE Brookhaven, MS 39601 (C) 601-757-3059 shannoneubanksmpe@gmail.com Minetta Fortenberry 10221 CR 397 Philadelphia, MS 39350 (C) 601-416-9054 minettafortenberry@icloud.com Gina Hollingsworth 258 Savell Road Decatur, MS 39327 (C) 601-479-0421
MPE STATE OFFICE P.O. Box 22550 Jackson, MS 39225-2550 Toll Free:(800) 523-0269 www.mpe.org
Kelly West P. O. Box 1329 Leakesville, MS 39451 769-475-0519 Kwestmpe@gmail.com
ghworth@outlook.com LaKeldra N. Pride 3045 Seven Road Batesville, MS 38606 (C) 662-609-8316 lakeldranpride@gmail.com
PAGE 2 MPE Journal - Winter 2024
MPE Journal Executive Director Kelly Riley All articles not otherwise signed are staff written. Permission to reproduce material appearing in MPE Journal must be obtained from MPE headquarters. The Mississippi Professional Educators assumes no responsibility for the opinions or points of view expressed by contributors to MPE Journal unless statements have been authorized by action of the Association. MPE endorses no item or service other than those under the auspices of the Association. MPE Journal is a trademark of MPE. MPE Journal is published three times annually by the Mississippi Professional Educators, Kelly Riley, Publisher.
Mississippi Professional Educators
Features The Value of Public Schools Page 6 Robin Atwood MPE Board of Directors MS NBCT Update Page 15 2025 Legislative Resources Page 17 2023-2024 Classroom Grants Pages 18 2024 MPE Regional Training Page 20 Hawkins Wins Student Loan
In Every Issue President’s Message Page 4 Dr. Melissa Bufkin
Cover Stories On the cover... Issues to be Considered in the School Choice Conversation Page 12
Message from the Executive Director Page 5 Kelly Riley Mississippi Department of Education News Page 8 Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning News Page 9 Community College News Page 10
Member Spotlight Pages 11, 16, 21, 22
Contest Page 22
www.mpe.org PAGE 3
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dr. Melissa Bufkin
Overcoming the Winter Blues in Education The weeks before and after the holidays can feel like an eternity for teachers and administrators. After starting the academic year with fresh ideas and a new mindset, many educators slowly find themselves in a slump as the first semester ends and the next one begins. These “Winter Blues” can be turned around to combat this feeling, and the passion for teaching can be reignited with some strategic advice. In her article for Education Week, Madeline Will (2022) highlights insights from Ellen Moir, a veteran educator and founder of the New Teacher Center. Moir offers three key strategies to help teachers and administrators regain their motivation and joy in the classrooms and in schools. 1. Keep Perspective and Recognize You’re Not Alone One of the first steps in combating the winter slump is to maintain perspective. It’s important to remind yourself that feelings of fatigue and frustration are common among educators, especially during this time of year. You are not alone. Teaching is hard! However, building a support network with colleagues can be immensely beneficial. Sharing experiences and discussing challenges can create a sense of camaraderie and helps us to remind one an - other that we are all part of a larger community committed to student success. 2. Strategically Reflect on One Improvement Each Weekend Taking some time during the weekends to reflect upon the prior week can make a significant difference. Moir sug - gests dedicating a portion of your weekend time to think about one specific change/idea you can implement in the following week. This could be a new teaching method, a classroom management strategy, or a way to engage students more effectively. By focusing on one actionable step or strategy, educators can feel a renewed sense of purpose and excitement. This will help to alleviate feelings of being overwhelmed and will encourage professional growth and development. 3. Prioritize Sleep for Better Well-being Lastly, Moir emphasizes the importance of sleep. Adequate rest is crucial for maintaining both physical and men - tal health. Sleep deprivation can lead to burnout, decreased productivity, and a lack of enthusiasm for teaching. Educators should prioritize their sleep by establishing healthy bedtime routines and making sleep a non-negotiable part of their lives. When teachers and administrators are well-rested, they are better equipped to handle the de - mands of their job. In conclusion, while the “Winter Blues” are upon us, it doesn’t have to be a time of decline. By keeping perspec - tive, strategically planning for the week ahead, and prioritizing sleep, teachers and administrators can shake off the blues and rediscover their passion for education. Remember, taking small steps can lead to significant improve - ments in overall well-being and job satisfaction.
PAGE 4 MPE Journal - Winter 2024
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kelly Riley
It is October 9 as I sit down to write this message to our members. The air is cooler, and fall is just around the corner. Saturdays are filled with football and our favorite teams. Vanderbilt’s upset of Alabama last weekend is a perfect example that anything
can happen on any given Saturday. The same is true with your classroom. You never know when that one lesson, project, or strategy is going to be the game changer for your students. While some have touted our state’s recent educational accomplishments or “wins” as the “Mississippi Miracle,” we know this success is not a miracle, but the result of hard work on the part of students, educators, and parents. Keep up the great work! A highlight of each fall here in our office is the kick-off of our regional trainings. This year’s training topics include classroom management, artificial intelligence (AI), effective conferencing with parents/stakeholders, and social and emotional learning. AI is the hot topic, as those sessions fill up quickly. Our trainings offer CEUs and SEMIs. We continue to provide these trainings free-of-charge for our members, as well as members of the Mississippi NBCT Network which MPE sponsors. Non-members may attend for $25, and this includes CEUs or SEMIs. See page 20 for our spring training dates and locations. Looking forward to the new year, the 2025 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature will begin Tuesday, Janu - ary 7, 2025. See page 17 for important legislative deadlines and phone numbers for members of the legislative leadership. As the session draws near and the debate over school choice heats up, it is critical that educators and other Mississippians understand the potential consequences of choice. It is even more important that MPE mem - bers and educators throughout our state share their thoughts on school choice with their senators and represen - tatives. While supporters have marketed the issue as giving parents more choice for their children’s education which sounds attractive, expanding choice could easily create a myriad of problems for communities and schools. See page 12 for more information on this issue. In our recent member survey, 81% of respondents indicated they would not support school choice legislation that would allow families to send their children to private schools at taxpayer expense via school vouchers. 51% of respondents indicated they would not support school choice leg - islation that would allow students to transfer from one public school district to another district of their choosing regardless of their residency (i.e., open enrollment). MPE offers more than $135,000 in scholarships and grants to our members each year. We will accept applications for three scholarship opportunities in the coming months. Applications for our Linda Anglin Teacher Preparation Scholarship will be due from each educator preparation program by January 17. Graduate scholarship applications will be due February 14, while the deadline for our high school senior scholarships will be March 19. Guidelines and applications for these are available at www.mpe.org/grants_scholarships. Save April 5 on your calendar and plan to attend MPE’s 2025 Best Practices Symposium featuring Dwayne Reed, America’s favorite rapping teacher, who will highlight relationship-building, humanity, and joy! Dr. Lindsay Brett and her alter ego Gladys of the Lee County School District will close out our day at the Sheraton Flowood’s Refuge Conference Center. Priority registration for MPE members will open in February. I hope you will plan to join us! Best wishes to you and your family for the most joyous of holidays, as well as blessings of peace and good health in 2025!
www.mpe.org PAGE 5
The Value of Public Schools
As Director of the South Missis - sippi Writing Project at the Uni - versity of Southern Mississippi, I visit public schools two to four days a week, working alongside teachers to improve students’ lit - eracy skills. Last week, as I pulled into the parking lot of a small ru - ral school, I realized I have spent most of my life in public school classrooms. I attended Lake High School for 12 years, USM for 4 years, taught in Forrest and Smith County for 20 years, and have been at USM as Director of the Writing Project and The World Class Teaching Program for 17 years. This means I’ve spent 53 of my 59 years in public schools. The old adage “If you want to know what someone values, look at how they spend their time” is certainly true of me. I value pub - lic schools. Growing up, I took my public school for granted: the selfless teachers, the laughter of friends on the playground, the music programs, the sports events, the high quality education, the sum - mer programs. As I’ve matured, however, I’ve come to appreci - ate the profound role that public schools play not just in individual lives, but in the very fabric of our communities.
Public schools often serve as com - munity centers, offering resources and support to families that extend beyond the classroom. Whether it’s after-school programs, meals for children in need, or health screen - ings, public schools are addressing the needs of families in a holistic manner. I’ve seen firsthand how schools can become safe havens, places where kids can thrive aca - demically and emotionally. They’re more than just buildings; they’re places where futures are forged. Supporting and investing in public education should be a priority for all community members. By doing so, we invest in the future—one where every child has the opportunity to succeed, and communities can thrive together. Looking back on my 53 years in public schools, I am grateful for the foundation that public schools laid for me as a student, nurturing my curiosity and preparing me for the complexities of the world beyond their walls. I am grateful for all I see them doing for the students within their walls today. I am grateful for their role as hubs of rural com - munities. And yet, until recently, I continued to take them for granted, assuming they’d always be there helping students thrive and flourish. More and more, the lack of support and the rise of privatization create a
Robin Atwood MPE Board of Directors
sense of instability, leaving many of us to wonder what the state of public schools will be a decade from now. I have no plans to retire any time soon, and I will continue to spend lots of time working in public school classrooms. I’ll also engage as many people as I can in conversations about the value of public schools. As long as there are voices willing to speak up, there is hope. I value public schools and deeply believe that we must all support them. That is a belief worth holding on to, and it is worth many more years of my time.
e
PAGE 6 MPE Journal - Winter 2024
From the Mississippi Professional Educators
MPE 2025 GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS Mississippi Professional Educators will award up to twenty scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to MPE members who wish to pursue graduate level studies at a college or university in Mississippi.
Eligibility requirements for the scholarship include: • Applicant is a member of MPE • Applicant will be under contract as a full-time educator in Mississippi during the 2025-2026 school year • Applicant is accepted and enrolled in graduate coursework at a Mississippi college or university OR intends to enroll in such coursework if awarded a scholarship For more information, visit www.mpe.org. Applications must be received in the MPE office by February 14, 2025.
www.mpe.org PAGE 7
LOOK HOW FAR WE HAVE COME; NOW WHAT’S NEXT FOR MISSIS- SIPPI’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS? For years, Mississippi educators put in the hard work to increase achievement in public schools even before expectations for students were raised. State legislative support has funded myriad initiatives to improve student outcomes, and the Mississippi State Board of Educa - tion (SBE) has used its Strategic Plan to guide the work of the Mississippi Depart - ment of Education (MDE). In turn, the MDE has worked to serve and support districts throughout the state to help students achieve at higher levels. Our collaborative efforts have paid off. The last Quality Counts report in 2023 ranked the state 35th in education, improving from 50th in 2013. Nationally, the state is also now ranked 35th in education by U.S. News and World Report and 30th in education – our highest ranking ever – by the 2024 Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT® Data Book. KIDS COUNT rated Mississippi 49th in 2014. Furthermore, the 2023-24 accountability results revealed 93.9% – the largest per - centage ever – of Mississippi school districts were rated A, B or C, and of those, 70% were rated B or higher. For schools, 85.7% were rated A, B or C. In 2016, the SBE set a goal that all schools and districts be rated C or higher. At that time, the percentage of schools and districts meeting this goal was 62% for both. These achievements have been described as outstanding, historic, and even miracu - lous by some education stakeholders. At the MDE, we have proudly celebrated this success, and we thank all the dedicated and professional Mississippi educators who made it happen in classrooms all over the state.
So, what’s next for Mississippi public schools? By law, the standards for student, school, and school district performance must be increased since at least 65% of schools and/or school districts are earning a grade of B or higher. This is detailed in Miss. Code Ann. 37-17-6(5)(c), which also calls for increased standards when student profi - ciency is 75% or higher. The Accountability Task Force (ATF) meets regularly and has been considering multiple options for resetting accountability stan - dards. Two primary changes being consid - ered are incorporating more measures of workforce readiness in the accountability system to incentivize districts to focus more on career readiness and exploring the methodologies of assigning letter grades. There are three general approaches under consideration: norm-referenced, criterion- referenced, and a hybrid of the two. The hybrid approach seems to have the most interest. See details below: Norm-referenced • Standards are based on the desired distribution of performance for schools or districts • For example: Only 10% of schools should get an “A” Criterion-referenced • Standards are based on a perfor - mance definition or profile • For example: To get an “A,” 75% of students must be proficient or meet growth targets. Hybrid • Combines elements of both norm and criterion-referenced approaches • For example: Comprehensive Sup - port and Improvement (CSI) schools will include all high schools with graduation rates less than 67% (criterion) • CSI schools are in the bottom 5% (normative)
A timeline of events for meeting this legisla - tive requirement has been shared with su - perintendents at meetings across the state. The ATF hopes to complete the proposed revisions to the model this fall, finalize the business rules in spring 2025, set the stan - dards in summer 2025, and communicate the changes to districts in fall 2025. By fall 2026, the new standards would be utilized to measure schools and districts. Before being presented to the SBE for ap - proval, everything will be processed and reviewed by the ATF, then the Technical Advisory Committee, and then the Com - mission on School Accreditation. Public comment will be gathered through the APA process as well. I trust the individuals in all the various groups will do what is best for Mississippi public schools. Everyone’s input, especially yours, will be invaluable to this process. You have already demonstrated how to teach and guide our students to excel, and I believe we will collaboratively continue the trend. As always, the MDE stands ready to support you in any way we can. Thank you for all you do. e Dr. Lance Evans State Superintendent of Education
PAGE 8 MPE Journal - Winter 2024
COMPLETING THE FAFSA IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD SUCCESS
There is a lot of talk going on right now about the labor force participa - tion rate in Mississippi. This rate, defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as “the population that is either working or actively seeking work,” is an important standard in our economic growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor force participation rate in America for the month of August 2024 was 62.7 percent; in Missis - sippi, it was 54.4 percent. Helping more Mississippians get and keep jobs is a critical component in our state’s success. Earning a degree at one of our eight public universi - ties is a critical component for the success of our citizens. I recently had the opportunity to speak before the Labor Force Par - ticipation Study Group, created this year by Lieutenant Governor Del - bert Hosemann. I shared data from the National Center for Education Statistics, including that the 2023 employment rate for Mississippians between the ages of 25-34 who have earned a college degree was 88 percent. The employment rate for those who had only completed high school was 74 percent.
In 2023, Mississippi’s universities awarded 19,605 degrees. Those graduates worked hard for those de - grees, and they are well-positioned to make a good living, hopefully here in Mississippi. Earning a de - gree in and of itself can be a heavy task, especially given the financial challenges many individuals face when looking at going to college. An important step in beating those challenges is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In Mississippi, many families may struggle to afford college tuition, fees, and related expenses. The FAF - SA is essential for determining eligi - bility for federal aid programs such as Pell Grants (which do not require repayment), and it also opens doors for state-specific aid programs, such as the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG). Many universities require the FAFSA for consideration for their own institutional aid packages; students who do not complete the FAFSA may miss out on additional scholarships and grants offered directly by their chosen schools. There is no question that every bit of financial support can make a significant difference in a student’s ability to attend college and graduate with less debt. The ap -
Alfred Rankins, Jr., Ph.D. Commissioner of Higher Education
plication for the 2025-26 academic year is scheduled to open on De - cember 1, 2024. Issues surrounding technical prob - lems with the FAFSA have been in the forefront of the news recently. Despite those issues, Mississippi’s students have been forging ahead with it. The most recent data from the Na - tional College Attainment Network shows that 61 percent of Missis - sippi students who graduated high school in 2024 have completed the FAFSA. Mississippi is ranked fourth in the nation for the percentage of students completing the application. We should celebrate this achieve - ment; not only have these students persisted in getting the support they need to attend college and earn a degree, but they are also one step closer to joining the labor force (again, hopefully in Mississippi) and building a successful career. e
The value of a college degree is evident.
www.mpe.org PAGE 9
S
The word “trend” is defined by Oxford Languages as “a general direction in which something is developing or changing.” We certainly see trends in fashion, social media, and home building, but the exciting trend for me to see is the trend of career and tech - nical education (CTE) gaining more attention in Mississippi. And we don’t need it to just be a trend, we need career and technical education for the foreseeable future. The value of CTE cannot be under - stated. Trends show the state needs more skilled workers to meet the de - mands of current and future business and industry. Whether this is in the field of technology infrastructure & computer programming, HVAC techni - cians & plumbers, or engineering technology & industrial engineering technology, our future will be technol - ogy based, and Mississippi commu - nity colleges can provide the training that is vital to keep our state moving forward. There are approximately 150 approved CTE programs currently of - fered in community colleges through - out the state. And we know that not every child will go on to earn an Asso - ciate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree. So why not provide your students with an alternative option? Encourage your students and friends to enroll in a CTE program at one of Mississippi’s top-ranked community colleges where there are multiple options to earn a degree or certificate. It makes sense for Mississippi, and it makes sense for
maintaining a sustainable wage upon completing high school. An example of developing technol - ogy for cloud based services, Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers are being built in Madison County and will require at least 1,000 qualified techni - cians. Holmes Community College is providing the first AWS Information Infrastructure Pre-Apprenticeship (I2PS) program designed to prepare participants with technology skills and information infrastructure. The data centers will contain computer serv - ers, data storage drives, networking equipment, and other forms of tech - nology. Another developing technol - ogy area is the shipbuilding industry. Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula was recently awarded a $9.6 billion contract from the US Navy for the construction of four ships, which are projected to be built one ship per year for the next several years. There will be many opportunities for a variety of skilled workers to see this multi-year project to completion and keep the workforce growing. Welders, fabri - cators, ship carpenters, electricians, plumbers, riggers, marine engineers, naval architects, pipe fitters, boiler - makers, and specialized technicians will be in high demand. The students and citizens of Mississippi have the opportunity to learn these skills beginning in high school and on into post-secondary education through technical training.
Kell Smith MCCB Executive Direc tor
Mississippi community colleges have the opportunity to increase the labor force participation rate that our state needs. In 2022, there were approxi - mately 91,000 students educated by Mississippi community colleges. Of those, 18,000 or 19% were on the ca - reer track while 52,639 or 55% were in the academic track. There were 4,284 Associate of Applied Science degrees awarded; 8,330 Associate of Arts degrees awarded; 3,045 tech - nical certificates and 3,260 career certificates earned. Some great things about community colleges are that it costs less than half of a four-year institution tuition and a career certifi - cate can be earned with a minimum of 30 credit hours and a technical certificate can be awarded with a minimum of 45 credit hours. Mississippi community college CTE programs can lead to high-wage, high-demand careers. These pro - grams benefit all of Mississippi’s economy, and I hope you will encour - age students to enroll in them! e
PAGE 10 MPE Journal - Winter 2024
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
FOUR MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS NAMED 2024 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS The U.S. Department of Education recog - nized four Mississippi schools this week as 2024 National Blue Ribbon schools.
They are among 356 schools honored nationwide. The recognition honors schools that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing the achievement gaps among different student groups. Congratulations to the following four school families and their communities: Exemplary High Performing Schools • Magnolia Park Elementary School, Ocean Springs School District • Mannsdale Upper Elementary School, Madison County School District Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools • Ripley High School, South Tippah School District • Stone Elementary School, Stone County School District Congratulations to these school families and their com - munities! Attention MPE Members: Is your child a member of the Class of 2025? MPE will award up to ten $500 scholarships to high school seniors who have at least one parent who is a member of MPE. Visit “MPE Grants and Scholarships” at www.mpe.org for the scholarship application and guidelines. Applications are due March 19, 2025, and we will announce recipients in April 2025.
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www.mpe.org PAGE 11 7/2/12 9:30 AM
ROS7326 MS Prof Educators Mag.indd 1
As the beginning of the 2025 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature draws near and the debate over school choice heats up, it is critical that educators and other Mississippians under - stand the potential consequences of choice. While our Winter 2023 MPE Journal discussed school choice vouchers, this article will discuss open enrollment which would allow students to transfer from one public school district to another district of their choosing, regardless of their residency. While supporters have touted the issue as giving parents more choice for their children’s education which may seem appealing, choice could easily create a myriad of challenges for communities and schools Mississippi Recognized for Educational Gains While school choice proponents may question the strength of our state’s public schools, our schools have been recognized nationally for their educational progress. At least 29 other states have visited or contacted the Mississippi Depart - ment of Education to learn more about the work and strategies that have led to our state’s educa - tional gains. Public school accountability grades for the 2023-24 school year reflect 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. In addition, the overall percentage of students scoring pro - ficient and advanced reached an all-time high in mathematics, English Language Arts, and science. Our districts have also witnessed higher national rankings and historical graduation rates. While there is more work to do, recent progress must be acknowledged and validated. Issues to be Considered in the School Choice Conversation
Some organizations that support choice in Mis - sissippi have criticized our state accountability model as failing to accurately portray public school performance because schools or districts with high letter ratings may have low proficiency rates. While our model includes proficiency, it is overall a growth model. The Mississippi Legisla - ture codified the accountability model into state law, and our public schools and districts have made tremendous progress in recent years under this model. Choice Destabilizes the Sense of Community It is difficult to think about a community with - out thinking about its schools. Schools provide a social infrastructure which sociologists have described “as veritable glue that connects us and binds us together in our communities.” Commu - nities educate local students because they recog - nize the benefits to the community as a whole. Schools provide a sense of local pride and tradi - tion, both of which are at risk of being lost with open enrollment. While school choice proponents may perceive our country’s schools as failing, a 2023 Gallup survey found that 76% of parents were satisfied with their child’s education. This underscores the importance of local schools, as parents with chil - dren in those local schools are pleased with their actual experience rather than the overall public who may form opinions based on what they hear rather than what they actually experience. School safety must also be considered when discussing school choice. Relationships between educators and their students are key to effective school safety. An influx of students from other communities could pose a significant challenge to administrators, teachers, and school resource of - ficers, particularly as it relates to those students’ mental health or behavioral needs and discipline histories.
PAGE 12 MPE Journal - Winter 2024
Choice Impacts Resources Mississippi public school districts serve nearly 90% of our state’s students and do so using lo - cal, state, and federal funding. While provisions of previous school choice legislation considered at the state capitol provided that state funding would follow the student, there is a misconcep - tion that state funds cover a majority of costs in districts. This is not true. Local dollars generated from local taxes pay a significant portion of dis - trict expenses, including bond issues for facility improvements or expansion. For the 2022-2023 school year, state funds accounted for 45.53% of revenue for public schools, while federal funds accounted for 23.76% and local funds accounted for 30.71% of revenue. While it may sound reasonable to ask citizens if they support parents’ right to take a more active role in deciding the best path for their children’s education via school choice, a more relevant question may be whether local taxpayers support funding education for students outside their own community. It could pose a significant challenge for local districts to pass local tax increases or bond issues to educate students from outside
No better evidence of the failures of choice has been witnessed than in Chile, a country whose adoption of choice did not result in improved test scores but did result in schools becoming socially segregated between the “haves” and “have nots”, causing a disparity between students based on the salaries of their parents. Mississippi Offers Choice Mississippi offers several forms of choice, includ - ing charter schools and magnet schools. State law allows students to enroll in a public school dis - trict outside of their district of residence with the consent of both districts. The state offers three scholarship or voucher programs for students with disabilities (speech-language, dyslexia, and special needs) to help pay for private school or education services. The Children’s Promise Act, a tax-credit education savings account, has provid - ed $35 million to independent schools in the last 5 years. Most recently, legislation passed during the 2024 Mississippi Legislative Session allows children of active military members to attend the district of their choice. Additionally, parents retain the option to enroll their child in a private school at their own expense.
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the district. If local schools fill up with transfer students from other communities, how will that district educate students who actually move into the district? The fiscal impact on those districts losing stu - dents to choice must also be considered. Mis - sissippi’s new school funding formula is based on enrollment. If students were to leave a district to attend school in another district they do not live in, it would reduce state funding and resources available to their district of residency. The district would have fewer students but the same fixed costs, which would make it more challenging to provide a quality education for the students remaining in the district. Choice would hamper local districts’ ability to effectively plan and prepare. Districts adopt budgets each spring and most also offer educa - tor contracts in the spring. How would districts plan for an outflow of students OR an influx of students from other districts? How would dis - tricts ensure they have the appropriate number of staff, as well as resources such as technology, equipment, or textbooks? It will be critical for districts to adopt local board policy establishing the capacity limit for the district. Choice will most likely open a floodgate of lawsuits filed against districts for denying students’ requests to transfer into the district. The cost of such lawsuits in both time and fiscal resources will impact district budgets. Choice Creates a Market Focus Choice creates a market focus in which students are considered commodities. Schools would focus on competing for the cream of the crop students rather than providing a well-rounded education for all students. The focus may be - come athletics and/or other popular programs or activities. This could easily create a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) atmosphere among athletes. There are also losers in choice, as a system focused on commodities means we have an “acceptable loss” within the system.
Independent School Association Opposes Choice The Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (formerly known as the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools) opposes school choice. The association shared in its 2023-24 Year in Review report that “While proponents argue for choice, it’s crucial to recognize that private and independent schools already epitomize such freedom. However, the school choice movement isn’t merely about choice; it’s about equity and inclusion, often at the expense of independent schools…The encroachment of regulation and increasing governmental control pose significant threats to the autonomy and quality of independent schools.” MPE Members Oppose Choice MPE members do not support school choice or school vouchers. In our recent member survey conducted this fall, 51% of respon - dents indicated they would not support school choice legislation that would allow students to transfer from one public school district to another district of their choosing regardless of their residency (i.e., open enrollment). 81% of respondents indicated they would not support school choice legislation that would allow fami - lies to send their children to private schools at taxpayer expense via school vouchers. e
PAGE 14 MPE Journal - Winter 2024
MISSISSIPPI NBCT NETWORK UPDATE
MPE is proud to sponsor the Mississippi National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) Network and to support National Board candidates and teachers. The Mississippi NBCT Network recently partnered with the South Mississippi Writing Project and Mississippi World Class Teaching Program (WCTP) directors to develop the new Handbook on Writing for National Board Certification . The Network developed the handbook in response to our state’s WCTPs identify - ing the need last year for this new resource. A link to the handbook is housed on the Mississippi NBCT Network page (www.mpe.org/ nbct) of our MPE website. Representatives of the Mississippi NBCT Network and the WCTPs met with Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith on August 26 to thank her for her support of National Board Certification. Senator Hyde-Smith co-sponsored Senate Resolution 533 which recognized the impor - tance and contributions of National Board Certified Teachers and declared January 21-27, 2024, as National Board Certified Teacher Week. Representatives presented Senator Hyde-Smith with a framed copy of Senate Resolution 533 during the meeting.
Representatives of the Mississippi NBCT Network thank Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for recognizing the contributions of National Board Certified Teachers.
Princess Thompson, Madison County National Board Coordinator and MPE District 6 Director, presents Sena- tor Hyde-Smith with a copy of Senate Resolution 533. Mississippi continues to be a leader in National Board Certification. With 4,818 NBCTs, Mississippi ranks 7th in state rankings for the to - tal number of NBCTs. While this update is being written in October, the number of Mississippi NBCTs should grow with National Board score release scheduled for Saturday, December 7. Candidates throughout our state will log in to the National Board for Profes - sional Teaching Standards website in hopes of seeing fireworks ex - ploding to denote that they earned National Board Certification. As in years past, the Mississippi NBCT Network will honor our state’s newest NBCTs by sending each of these outstanding educators a door plaque to post outside of their classroom to denote that they are an NBCT. Mississippi educators considering pursuing National Board Certification may contact any of the following Mississippi WCTPs for additional information regarding their candidate support and mentoring services: • Delta State University - swww.deltastate.edu/education-arts-humanities/teacher-seducation/world-class- teaching-program/ • Jackson State University - www.jsums.edu/lifelearning/national-board-certification/ • Mississippi State University - www.wctp.msstate.edu • University of Mississippi – http://wctp.olemiss.edu/ • University of Southern Mississippi - www.usm.edu/education/world-class-teaching-program.php
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
RAFACH HONORED AS HISTORY TEACHER OF THE YEAR MICHELLE RAFACH, a teacher at Pearl River Central High
MPE MEMBERS NAMED TO PRINCIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL Earlier this week, the Mississippi Department of Edu - cation (MDE) announced the addition of 23 educators to the Mississippi Principal Advisory Council (MPAC). MPE is particularly proud of our 10 members who are among these 23 educators: Steven Covington , Jackson County Technology Center, Jackson County School District Bill Glover , Prentiss County Career & Technology Center, Prentiss County School District Anthony Golding , Pierce Street Elementary School, Tupelo Public School District Marsha Hillhouse , Pontotoc Middle School, Pontotoc City School District Stacey Lee , Bay Waveland Middle School, Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District Julius Lucas, III , East Elementary School, Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District Wyn Mims , Petal Elementary School, Petal School District Dustin Payne , Pontotoc High School, Pontotoc City School District Jay Rayborn , Columbia Elementary School, Columbia School District Justin Sutton , Long Beach High School, Long Beach School District The MPAC provides feedback to State Superintendent of Education Dr. Lance Evans on a variety of MDE initiatives and shares suggestions on how MDE can assist principals on topics critical to their success as administrators. Formed in 2021, the MPAC now in - cludes 42 principals, including 18 MPE members. MPE appreciates MPAC members’ service to our state and their fellow administrators!
School in the Pearl River County School District, has been named the 2024 Mississippi History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Established in 2004, this prestigious award recognizes
exceptional elementary through high school teach - ers for their outstanding contributions to American history education. GREER HONORED AS CEC TEACHER OF THE YEAR
NICOLE GREER was honored by the Mississippi Council for Excep - tional Children at its conference in September as the organiza - tion’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Nicole teaches at Florence High School in the Rankin County School District.
MPE MEMBERS SERVE ON MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE HEATHER GARRETT, Science Department Chair at Bran - don Middle School, and JULIE THORNTON , school nurse with the Pearl Public School District, served on the K-12 and Postsec - ondary Mental Health Task Force created by SB 2727 during the 2024 Legislative Session. The task force was charged with addressing growing con -
cerns related to student mental health. The task force submitted its recommendations to the legis - lature this fall regarding changes to state policy and laws with a goal of better identifying students at all levels struggling with mental health issues.
PAGE 16 MPE Journal - Winter 2024
2025 MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATIVE SESSION RESOURCES
The 2025 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature will convene at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. This will be a 90-day session, as it will be the second session of a four-year legislative term. Significant legislative deadlines include the following: • January 20 - Deadline for introduction of general bills and constitutional amendments • February 4 - Deadline for committees to report general bills originating in own house • February 13 - Deadline for original floor action on general bills originating in own house • March 4 - Deadline for committees to report gen - eral bills originating in other house • March 12 - Deadline for original floor action on general bills originating in other house • March 27 - Deadline to concur or not concur in amendments from other house to general bills • March 29 - Deadline for conference reports on ap - propriation bills to be filed • March 31 - Deadline for adoption of appropriation conference reports and for conference reports on general bills to be filed • April 6 - Sine Die House and Senate members are elected to represent their constituents in their respective legislative districts. It is your right and extremely important for you to share your thoughts and opinions with your senator and representa - tive throughout the session on critical pieces of legislation being considered. Phone calls/messages are much more effective than emails. Below are phone numbers for key statewide and legislative leaders. • Governor Tate Reeves: 601-359-3100 or 601-359-3150 • Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann: 601-359-3200 • Speaker of the House Jason White: 601-359-3300 • Senate Education: Senator Dennis DeBar, Jr., 601- 359-3250 • Senate Universities and Colleges: Senator Nicole Boyd, 601-359-2886 • Senate Appropriations: Senator Briggs Hopson, 601- 359-3250 • House Education: Rep. Rob Roberson, 601-359-3365
• House Universities and Colleges: Rep. Donnie Scoggin, 601-359-3365 • House Appropriations: Rep. John Read, 601-359- 3340 • Capitol Switchboard (leave a message for any legislator): 601-359-3770 MPE’s “Legislators by School District” (www.mpe.org/ legislators-by-school-district) allows you to identify legislators by school district, with contact information provided for each legislator. Legislative contact infor - mation is also available via the Mississippi Legislature’s homepage at www.legislature.ms.gov. MPE will keep our members updated as to the status of important legislation under consideration throughout the session via our weekly email updates and our social media platforms. We will issue our first bill tracking spreadsheet after the February 4 committee deadline. We will post an updated tracking sheet in the “Legisla - tive News” section of our website (www.mpe.org) each Friday.
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2023-2024 CLASSROOM GRANT RECIPIENTS
MPE invites its members to apply for classroom grant funding each year to try out a new idea or buy the “extras” for an already great lesson plan or project. Forty-four members received grants of up to $1,000 for their class projects and instructional program. We are pleased to spotlight several of the grants below for your enjoyment, as well as your reference for ideas for your own classroom.
Juliette Collier Northwest Rankin Middle School 3D Canvases
Thank you so much to MPE for funding the art project in my classroom. Making art in 3D gives students a new perspective on the concept of art, a question we ask everyday. Now, the students can say, “Art can be sculpture, not just paintings and drawings.” My students enjoyed making the 3D canvas paintings. I saw students who sometimes struggle do so well with the clay and also, students who sometimes are not interested in our lessons really enjoy themselves. It was refreshing to change
up the pattern in my classes. With the grant from MPE, my students were able to look at art a different way, express them - selves, and have amazing art to show online and at our end of the year art show. My students produced 146 3D canvases - they learned a lot about art, but even more about what they are able to do.
Anamaria Moore Vardaman Attendance Center Lactose Intolerance: Enzyme Specificity & Cellular Transport
Thank you so much to MPE for funding the classroom grant that provided lab equip - ment and supplies for my classroom! The grant was used to create and run an experi - ment investigating lactose intolerance and the effects of different variables on enzyme activity in my biology classroom. This lab allowed my students to better understand topics in the biology curriculum, which helped prepare them for their Biology 1 state test, as well as learn more about the relatable effects of enzyme activity through a study of lactose intolerance, which many of them could connect to their everyday lives. The hands-on learning created a new and invaluable experience for them they otherwise would not have. The goals for this project were for students to safely and ac - curately conduct a scientific investigation and construct an appropriate explanation to relate the results of the experiment to “real life” including data that was collected dur - ing the experiment. I think it is really important that students appreciate that science affects their everyday lives and extends beyond the classroom. Both of my goals were reached with this activity, all thanks to the MPE Classroom Grant!
Janice Barnes Arlington Elementary Centered on Literacy
My students, parents, and I are grateful that MPE funded our grant. The students were eager to read with their Adopt-a-Reading Buddy. My goals were to increase literacy across all subjects and improve parent involvement. My students enjoyed collaborating with their peers utilizing the journals, listening center, and the comprehension centers.
Students’ critical thinking, analytical, and questioning skills improved in all subjects. Most parents were very hands on and eager to assist as much as possible. The funding from the MPE grant afforded our class a listening center, a set of T-Rex read-along books, 6 National Geographic read-alongs, 12 comprehension centers, 20 writing journals, and math journals, and 33 stuffed Reading Buddies.
PAGE 18 MPE Journal - Winter 2024
Chelsey Wilson Tupelo High School Read Away!
Thank you, MPE, for funding the classroom grant that en - abled me to further the independent reading program in my classroom! The students and I love the audiobook devices. En - abling the students to read along as they listen to an animated, high-quality, and engaging narration really helps them get lost in the story. Having the visual and the auditory simultaneously
helps them focus and comprehend what they are reading. My students are intrigued by the titles and curious about a new way to read. The Playaway devices are helping them to love reading again about art, but even more about what they are able to do.
Dr. Rose Cherie Bowe Pascagoula High School “Cinderella-Enchanted Edition”
Thank you, MPE, for funding the classroom grant that we received. Our goals to develop self-confidence, teach teamwork, improve listening skills, and experience char - acter development through the process of characteriza - tion, were accomplished for the elementary, middle
school, and high school students who were part of the Broadway Musical production of “Cinderella - Enchanted Edition.” An additional goal of increasing creativity, imaginative skills, and the concept of team building were also accomplished in making costumes, props, and building sets. We had a great adventure! A full-scale Broadway Musical production is very costly, and the grant contribution was extremely helpful to us. We truly appreciate your generosity!
Leah Walker Newton County Elementary 3D Fire Safety Home Modeling
I just wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your incredible support in bringing the “3D Fire Safety Home Modeling” project to life in my class - room. Without the generous grant from MPE, this project wouldn’t have been possible. Your support enabled us to
purchase a 3D printing machine, which has truly transformed the learning journey for my students. It’s been amazing to see how this technology has opened up new avenues for exploration and discovery in our classroom. Thanks to your help, we were able to dive deep into this project, and the results surpassed all expectations! With the 3D printer, my students have been able to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) in a hands-on and engaging way. Plus, they’ve been learning crucial lessons about fire safety and social-emotional skills along the way. Throughout the project, my students have demonstrated incredible creativity,problem-solving abilities, and empathy. It’s been inspiring to watch them work together and communicate openly about important safety concerns in their homes and communities.
Kreissa Reed Neshoba Central Elementary Energy Conservation and Natural Resources
Thank you so much for the grant money to purchase NASA-inspired S.T.E.M. kits from Central Creativity located out of Hattiesburg, MS. The kits achieved the goal of positively impacting student’s inter - est and involvement in science. Students constantly asked for more
hands-on activities, and the kits made it easy to provide them. They recorded information, made charts, calculated data, and wrote about their results, which helped create a deeper learning by combining cross-curricular content and allowed 142 students to create a new, fresh, lasting piece of artwork.
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