The Mississippi State Board of Education adopts rules and regulations and set standards and policies for the organization, operation, management, planning, budgeting and programs of the Mississippi State Department of Education.
The Board is made up of nine members. Each member is appointed according to the rules in the Mississippi Constitution. The Board appoints the State Superintendent of Education. Mississippi Constitution rules require that the Mississippi Governor appoints one member from Mississippi’s Northern Supreme Court District, one member from Mississippi’s Central Supreme Court District, one member from Mississippi’s Southern Supreme Court District, one member who is employed as a school administrator, and one member who is employed as a public school teacher. Additionally, the Lieutenant Governor shall appoint two members at-large, and the Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives shall appoint two members at-large.
In its role as a policymaker, the Board has a State Board of Education 5-Year Strategic Plan.
Mr. Glen East
Chair
Term expires July, 2032
Administrator Representative
geast@mdek12.org
Mr. Matt Miller
Vice-Chair
Term expires July, 2029
Southern Supreme Court District Representative
mmiller@mdek12.org
Dr. Lance Evans
Executive Secretary
State Superintendent of Education
Dr. Wendi Barrett
Term expires July, 2027
Teacher Representative
wbarrett@mdek12.org
Mr. Matt Mayo
Term expires July, 2025
Central Supreme Court District Representative
mmayo@mdek12.org
Mr. Bill Jacobs
Term expires July, 2033
At-Large Representative
bjacobs@mdek12.org
Dr. Ronnie McGehee
Term expires July, 2028
At-Large Representative
rmcgehee@mdek12.org
Mr. Mike Pruitt
Term expires July, 2031
At-Large Representative
mpruitt@mdek12.org
Mrs. Billye Jean Stroud
Term expires July, 2030
Northern Supreme Court District Representative
bstroud@mdek12.org
Mrs. Mary Werner
Term expires July, 2026
At-Large Representative
mwerner@mdek12.org
Kate Riddle
Term expires April, 2025
Senior Student Representative
Lafayette High School
kriddle@mdek12.org
Crosby Parker
Term expires April, 2026
Junior Student Representative
Gulfport High School
cparker@mdek12.org
Postal mail for board members should be sent to the following address:
Mississippi Department of Education
Sonya Amis
P. O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205-0771