VIDEO: Welcoming The New Starkville Oktibbeha Schools Superintendent

STARKVILLE, Miss.(WCBI)—The Starkville Oktibbeha school district is rolling out the red carpet for it’s pick for new superintendent.

Dr. Eddie Peasant joins the district from the Tupelo school system.

” I’ve known Dr. Peasant for a long time. He’s been a successful leader everywhere he’s been. He’s put good things into place and made a difference in the lives of kids and student achievement. So he’s a good guy and a great pick for the Starkville Oktibbeha school district,”said Assistant Superintendent Toriano Holloway.

The new job marks Peasant’s climb from a principal in Gulfport to assistant superintendent in Tupelo before making the move an hour south. Board president Keith Coble says the valuable experience is what made Peasant stand out from the rest.

“Ultimately the experience is all important. Dr. Peasant has had experience in a variety of schools and top schools. He has experience in various roles. He also, I think, brought a personality a kind of sense of quiet confidence that we really liked during the interview process,”said Coble.

Peasant says one thing he is particularly excited about, is the start of the Partnership school.

“It’s going to give our students the opportunities that, no other students in the state will have.  The ventures with Mississippi State and its involvement with the school. The technology and stem opportunities that will be apart of that school and the curriculum that will be attached to that. What it also does, is it will force our elementary schools to change some things they do in preparing student for that school or add courses for our students because of the experiences they will have at the Partnership school,”said Peasant.

Coble says the kinks of the consolidation are worked out and now is the perfect time for Peasant to take over.

“I think it’s just an exciting time in our district working on the partnership school, getting the consolidation , which was an enormous task and a lot of work done and done successfully. Now I think that I’m at a point where we can start focusing our attention on where we are going next,”said Coble.

Dr. Peasant’s official first day is July 1st.