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
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