Three men are in the running to lead the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District after Superintendent Lewis Holloway retires this summer.
The SOCSD Board of Trustees developed a shortlist of preferred candidates Tuesday out of a pool of 43 applicants. The finalists are Tupelo School District Assistant Superintendent Eddie Peasant, Scott County School District Superintendent Tony McGee and Tullahoma, Tennessee, School District Superintendent Dan Lawson.
The three candidates will each spend a full day in the district as part of the interview process, which will also include question-and-answer sessions with four focus groups representing district and community stakeholders who previously participated in SOCSD listening sessions.
School board members will interview each candidate in executive session.
Those interviews are scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Monday.
Peasant has served as a TSD assistant superintendent since 2014. In his role, he oversees secondary education. He earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Southern Mississippi and holds a master’s degree from Mississippi College. He previously served as Clinton High School’s principal for six years.
McGee has nine years of experience leading school systems. He has served as Scott County Schools’ superintendent for two years and previously served as Kosciusko’s school leader for seven years. He holds two degrees from Mississippi State University, including a doctorate, and a master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Lawson has served as Tullahoma, Tennessee School District’s superintendent since 1997. He earned a doctorate from the University of Mississippi in 1993 and also holds degrees from the University of Missouri and Missouri State University. His previous work experience includes stints as a principal and district superintendent with the Mountain Grove, Missouri, School District.
SOCSD President Jenny Turner said in a release that the total number of applicants – almost double the amount garnered in the search that yielded Holloway’s appointment – reflect a “greater interest in the district and the position.”
“We have a very strong pool,” she said in the release. “It is an exciting time for our community and our district as we prepare to break ground on one of the most innovative schools, from programs to facilities, for sixth and seventh grades in the Southeast. We’re ready to take the next step in the search process to identify the person who can best lead the district forward.”
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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