ALT Image shows a graduation cap image and the words - Mississippi Department of Education

ALT This graphic states The Time is Right, which is the name of a conference happening June 16–18, at the Mississippi State University Riley Center in Meridian, Mississippi.

ALT Today, the State Board of Education (SBE) recognized Limeul Eubanks for being named the 2026 National Art Education Association (NAEA) Southeastern Region Supervision and Administration Art Educator of the Year. Eubanks is the PreK-12 State Arts and World Languages Director in the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Curriculum and Instruction. He has served MDE for more than 18 years overseeing statewide programs in Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, World Languages, and the Mississippi Seal of Biliteracy. The NAEA recognition reflects his individual excellence as well as Mississippi’s growing strength in arts education. This image shows three people standing side by side with the person in the middle holding a certificate.

ALT This image shows eight people standing side by side with the person in the middle holding a certificate.

ALT This image shows Limeul Eubanks.

ALT The Rural Teacher of the Year Award recognizes and honors outstanding teachers who have made significant contributions to rural education statewide. This year, Melanie Davis-Hardy was selected from four finalists, each representing one of Mississippi’s congressional districts. She is also a member of the Mississippi Teacher Advisory Council. As the 2026 Mississippi Rural Teacher of the Year, she will serve as an ambassador for rural education and represent Mississippi at the National Rural Education Association (NREA) Conference, where the nation’s top rural teacher will be named. The photo shows four people standing together, with one person holding a certificate.

ALT The image shows Melanie Davis-Hardy, a sixth-grade math and science teacher at Yazoo County Middle School in the Yazoo County School District.

ALT Congratulations Class of 2026 from the Mississippi Department of Education.

ALT Save the Date. The Mississippi Literacy Association, in partnership with MDE’s Division of Literacy and the North Mississippi Education Consortium, will host the 55th Annual Mississippi Literacy Association Conference, Turn the Page: Transforming Literacy One Page at a Time from Dec. 2-4, at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi.

ALT Career superintendents in the inaugural class of the Mississippi Superintendent Institute (MSI) received their certificates Friday, April 24, in Jackson for completing the eight-month professional learning program. MDE, in partnership with the National Center on Education and the Economy, created the intensive program for new and career superintendents to strengthen leadership across Mississippi school districts. New superintendents in the MSI program received their certificates Tuesday, April 14, in Clinton. MDE congratulates all MSI participants for their commitment to completing the program to better benefit students, staff and communities. Pictured are the superintendents and program facilitators.

ALT Mississippi Department of Education

ALT 2026 Mississippi's Administrator and Teacher of the Year Dr. Matthew Fulton, principal of Sumner Hill Junior High School in the Clinton Public School District in Congressional District 2. Mrs. Lauren Zarandona, teacher of mathematics for grades 11-12 at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Congressional District 1.

ALT Mississippi Department of Education

ALT The Mississippi Department of Education has announced the 2026 Mississippi Parent of the Year is Kristina Carter, a mother of four with three students in the Natchez-Adams School District.

ALT MDE has announced the finalists for the 2026 Mississippi Administrator of the Year and the 2026 Mississippi Teacher of the Year.  Administrator finalists are April Hobson of New Albany Middle School, New Albany School District; Dr. Matthew Fulton of Sumner Hill Junior High School, Clinton Public School District; Stephanie Shirley of Clarkdale High School, Lauderdale County School District; and Patrick Bennett of Long Beach Career and Technical, Long Beach School District. Teacher finalists are Lauren Zarandona of The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science; Lauren Saxton of Yazoo County High School, Yazoo County School District; Lori Street of West Marion High School, Marion County School District; and Cody Eadie of Harrison Central High School, Harrison County School District MS. Read more at bit.ly/4sQEO05. #MsEdu

ALT Nicki Stanley is the principal of Puckett Elementary, which was chosen as an ESEA National Distinguished School for demonstrating exceptional student performance. Puckett Elementary has been A-rated for two consecutive years, met the state math goal, and met both state goals for improvement in reading and math. Its students achieved the highest reading increase in the state.

ALT Samantha Kelly is the principal for Ackerman Elementary, which was chosen as an ESEA National Distinguished School for closing the achievement gap between student groups. Ackerman Elementary has maintained an A-rating for two consecutive years and met all four state goals for reading and math achievement and improvement. The school’s students with disabilities achieved the highest proficiency rate in reading in the state.

ALT 2024-25 Mississippi Graduation and dropout rates 90.8% graduation rate 7.0% dropout rate Mississippi Department of Education

ALT Third grade reading assessment 2026 key information and dates

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ALT Mississippi Department of Education