New Albany Teacher Tops in State

King

King

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and the Mississippi Teacher Center today announced Michael Lindsey, Gulfport High School principal, as the 2014 Mississippi Administrator of the Year (MAOY), and Mary Margarett King, an English teacher at New Albany High School, as the 2014 Mississippi Teacher of the Year (MTOY).

Each school district selects a District Teacher of the Year and District Administrator of the Year. Following an intensive selection process, four congressional district winners are chosen from district award recipients. Finally, one teacher earns the MTOY recognition and one administrator earns the MAOY recognition following an interview with finalists.

A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), Lindsey received his Master’s degree in Educational leadership from USM. He started his career as a biology teacher and head baseball coach. He taught and coached at Coldwater High School, Natchez High School and Gulfport High School.

Lindsey has 19 years of educational experience, with 13 of those years in the Gulfport School District. This is his 8th year to serve as Gulfport High School principal.

“As administrator, I understand much is being asked of us in what we do for our students. I welcome the challenge and expect teachers in our building to do the same. Each day I strive to create a culture in our school for teachers to plan lessons, so our students are the active participants in the learning,” he said.

For the last four years, the Gulfport High School staff has been working towards redesigning the high school experience. This redesign offers a rigorous college prep curriculum, early college opportunities for juniors and seniors and the addition of three academies (Health and Human Services/ Communication, Arts and Business/ STEM).

The Mississippi Administrator of the Year program honors an administrator who demonstrates superior ability to inspire teachers, employs exemplary leadership practices and participates as an active member of the community. The recipient receives a $5,000 stipend and shares expertise through various presentations and activities for the improvement of education in the state.

Likewise, the Mississippi Teacher of the Year program recognizes exemplary teachers in the state. The award recipient is also asked to share expertise through various presentations and activities for the improvement of education. King will represent Mississippi in the National Teacher of the Year competition. In addition, she will travel to Washington, D.C., to meet the President and First Lady and will participate in a Rose Garden recognition ceremony at the White House.

King has been teaching English at New Albany High School for the past nine years. A graduate of the University of North Alabama, she teaches 11th grade accelerated and advanced placement English and dual-enrollment English Composition I and II. In 2008, she became a National Board Certified Teacher in English Language Arts.

“It is my desire as an educator to never become idle but always actively participate in my students’ development; to never become complacent with one teaching method but to always bring versatility to the classroom; and to never be unstable but always provide my students with structure, consistency and stability,” she said.

Administrator of the Year Finalists

· Margaret Boyd, PhD, 2014 Mississippi Alternate Administrator of the Year, is principal at Lake Cormorant Elementary, DeSoto County Schools

· Michael Pope, principal, Lovett Elementary School, Clinton Public Schools

· Lisa Seale, principal, Lake Elementary, Scott County Schools

Teacher of the Year Finalists

· Susan Bender, 2014 Mississippi Alternate Teacher of the Year, is a science teacher at Jim Hill High School, Jackson Public School District

· Carol Ann Drane, special populations teacher, Simpson County Technical Center, Simpson County School District

· Kim Abel, 5th grade English teacher, Oak Grove Upper Elementary, Lamar County School District

Categories: Local News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *