Dr. Raymond C. Morgigno
Interim State Superintendent of Education
Mississippi
Dr. Raymond Morgigno began serving as Interim State Superintendent of Education on July 1, 2023. He previously served as the Executive Director of the East Mississippi Center for Educational Development. During his time at EMCED, Morgigno coordinated with universities and the Mississippi Department of Education to provide trainings and technical support to school districts in Mississippi. Prior to this assignment, Morgigno served as the superintendent of the Pearl Public School District for 12 years. He has 29 years of educational experience with the past 26 being in administration. Morgigno began his educational career at Tupelo High School where he was a teacher and coach. He then served as an assistant principal at both New Hope High School and Brandon High School. In 2006, Morgigno became principal of Pearl High School and helped lead the school to becoming the highest performing school in the state during 2008. In 2010 Morgigno was named superintendent of the Pearl School District. Under his leadership, the district earned an A rating, increased Dual Credit and Career and Technical Education opportunities for students, began a pre-K program, passed a major bond referendum, oversaw numerous construction projects, increased graduation rates from 77% to 97%, and had the highest special education graduation rate in the state.
Morgigno also served in the Mississippi Army National Guard for over 21 years, retiring in 2011 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Morgigno served most of his career as a field artillery officer and held numerous leadership roles at home and abroad. Morgigno served one tour of duty in Iraq during 2004-2005. He is also a graduate of the United States Army Airborne School.
Morgigno’s leadership skills have earned him several recognitions. He was the Mississippi Superintendent of the Year in 2017, a member of the governing board of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) from 2016-2019 and was then one 0f 16 superintendents from across the country elected to serve on the executive board of AASA from 2019-2022 where he represented the southeastern United States. He has served as the president of the Mississippi Association of School Administrators, president of the East Mississippi Center for Educational Development, and president of the Pearl Kiwanis Club. He served on the Executive Board for the Mississippi High School Activities Association for nine years and has served on the board of directors for the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents. He has been awarded the Pearl Chamber of Commerce “Pillar of the Community” award, the City of Pearl “Ray Rogers” award for outstanding leadership, the MASA Golden Lamp award, and the Boy Scouts of America Golden Eagle Award.
Morgigno attended Hinds Community College and holds a bachelor’s degree in social science education from Delta State University, a Master of Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Mississippi State University. He also completed the Lamar University Center for Executive Leadership Superintendent Academy.
Morgigno and his wife Gina have been married for 27 years and reside in Pearl, MS. They have two children, Kyle, a teacher at Pearl High School, and Alyssa Kate, a student at Mississippi State University.