The State Board of Education has named Dr. Lance Evans the state superintendent of education.
The SBE selected Evans, who most recently served as superintendent of the New Albany School District, after conducting a national search, with the Mississippi native set to succeed interim state superintendent of education Dr. Ray Morgigno. Morgigno was appointed to serve as interim superintendent from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
A 24-year veteran educator, Evans has led the New Albany School District since 2017, with the district receiving its first A-rating for the 2018-19 school year.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the position of State Superintendent of Mississippi. My commitment to fairness, equity, and innovation in education aligns seamlessly with the values of this great state,” Evans stated.
“I look forward to collaborating with educators, stakeholders, and communities to forge new pathways for our graduates, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.”
Prior to his time as district superintendent, Evans served as principal and assistant principal of New Albany High School and principal of New Albany Elementary School for over a decade. Evans also held the positions of teacher, coach, and administrator in the Oxford and Itawamba County school districts.
Evans currently holds the title of the 2023 Mississippi Association of School Administrators’ Superintendent of the Year and serves as the state representative on the organization’s national governing board.
“Dr. Evans is a visionary leader who is committed to continuously improving student achievement,” Glen East, SBE chair, explained. “The Board sought broad public input about the qualities and priorities the next state superintendent of education should have, and Dr. Evans meets all of our expectations.”
During the search for a new superintendent, the SBE launched a statewide survey to collect public input about the desired characteristics of the next appointment. Board members then used the survey results to help evaluate candidates, which included applicants from Mississippi and several other states.
The SBE interviewed four semifinalists before selecting Evans as the finalist. Senate confirmation during the 2024 legislative session is required to complete the appointment process.
Morgigno will continue to lead the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) as the interim state superintendent of education until Evans assumes the role on July 1, 2024.
“The MDE has an incredible staff who are laser-focused on our mission to improve opportunities and outcomes for every child in the state,” Morgigno added. “We will be pressing forward on all of the agency’s priorities and initiatives over the next six months to ensure Dr. Evans is set up for success.”
A little over one year ago, the SBE released plans to name Dr. Robert Taylor the next state superintendent, succeeding Dr. Kim Benton, who had been serving as interim superintendent since July 2022.
Taylor assumed the position in January 2023, with the Senate later rejecting Taylor’s confirmation with a 31-21 vote in late March.
Senators opposed to Taylor’s confirmation expressed concerns with the fact that he has spent most of his public service outside of the Magnolia State, raising questions about his familiarity with Mississippi’s education system.
Mike Kent was then selected to serve as temporary interim superintendent until Morgigno was named the long-term interim on July 1.
