State Superintendent of Education Dr. Lance Evans officially began his duties on July 1, succeeding Dr. Raymond Morgigno, who served as interim state superintendent from July 2023 through June 2024, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and the Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) announced.
Dr. Evans, a product of Mississippi public schools, brings over two decades of experience in education, having served in various roles including teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and district superintendent. He is the former superintendent of New Albany School District, where he achieved significant success, leading the district to earn an A rating for five consecutive years, placing in the top 10% of Mississippi school districts. Dr. Evans also implemented a successful workforce development program through career and technical education initiatives and partnerships with private businesses.
“I am honored and humbled to begin my service today as state superintendent of education,” Dr. Evans said. “I look forward to collaborating with educators, stakeholders, and communities to create new pathways for our graduates to achieve success in college, their careers, and life.”
Dr. Evans was selected by the SBE in December 2023 following a national search, and his appointment was unanimously confirmed by the Mississippi Senate in March 2024.
In a statement, Dr. Evans outlined six primary goals for his tenure:
– Updating the State Board Strategic Plan with stakeholder input to reflect current priorities for public education
– Restructuring support for low-performing districts by establishing a department within the MDE to focus on improving student outcomes and preventing the need for a state takeover
– Integrating workforce development and career and technical education through strong partnerships between districts and private businesses and industries
– Examining the accountability system to incentivize districts to focus on workforce development
– Addressing the teacher shortage by assisting districts with recruiting and retaining teachers
– Increasing enrollment in public schools by creating equitable systems that attract families back to public education
“Success looks different for each student. It is our responsibility as educators to create multiple, flexible paths to achievement. All students deserve the opportunity to find their own route to success without encountering dead ends,” Dr. Evans emphasized.
