NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: June 16, 2022
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) has appointed Dr. Earl Watkins to lead the Mississippi Achievement School District (ASD), effective July 1.
The ASD includes the Humphreys County and Yazoo City school districts, which became part of Mississippi’s first ASD in June 2019. Mississippi's ASD law requires the SBE and the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) to intervene in persistently under-performing school districts to improve student achievement. The SBE takes the place of local school boards as the governing body of the ASD.
The ASD focuses on the four areas that are central to rapid and significant school improvement: turnaround leadership, talent development, instructional transformation, and culture shift. Districts in the ASD must maintain a “C” accountability rating for five years to become eligible to return to local governance.
Dr. Watkin has an extensive background as an instructional leader with proven success in improving student outcomes, especially for students impacted by poverty and English Language Learners. He formerly led the Claiborne County School District and the Indianola County School District as an MDE conservator and served as superintendent of Jackson Public Schools for six years. He brings more than 30 years of experience as an educator serving at all levels, including teacher, principal, higher education instructor, and K-12 leadership trainer.
Dr. Watkins will succeed Dr. Jermall Wright, who was recently named superintendent of the Little Rock School District in Little Rock, AR.
Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.
Media Contact:
Jean Cook, APR
Director of Communication
601-359-3515
jcook@mdek12.org
Shanderia Minor
Public Information Officer
601-359-3515
sminor@mdek12.org