The Poplarville and Pearl River Central School Districts received the Mississippi School Boards Association’s Lantern Award at the MSBA Lighthouse School Leaders Awards luncheon in Jackson on Nov. 11.
According to an MSBA release, 59 school districts were recognized for exceptional student achievement. Awards were based on student performance from last spring’s Mississippi accountability program testing requirements.
Poplarville and PRC were among 35 districts in the Lantern category.
The Lantern Award acknowledges districts that have an overall grade of ‘B,’ and no schools below C, based on the Mississippi Department of Education’s State Accountability Standards, the release states.
PRC Superintendent Alan Lumpkin said it’s an honor to receive this award for the second year in a row.
“It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty and administration,” Lumpkin said. “I’m especially proud to receive this award this year because right now public education is undergoing a transitional period in state standards.”
This year there are new teacher and principal evaluation, student assessment and the accountability model.
“Our district has sustained and upheld our standard of excellence during this period,” Lumpkin said.
Poplarville Superintendent Carl Merritt said this award was made possible due to the effort of all four schools.
“I would like to congratulate each individual school, staff and students for their efforts in receiving this award,” Merritt said. “I’m very proud of them.”
According to the release, the MSBA Lighthouse School Leader Awards program was established at the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year to recognize school districts for meeting the more rigorous state and federal accountability standards.
Learn more about MSBA at www.msbaonline.org.