Change in leadership for schools

The Marshall County School District will have a new superintendent of education in January 2020.

The hiring of Roy Lawson of Iuka was announced last week by the county school board. He has served the past six years as assistant superintendent in Tishomingo County, plus director of curriculum and testing.

“I am excited about the new opportunity, leading a district and putting my stamp on a district,” Lawson said. “I want to continue the progress going on there, do what’s best for the children in Marshall County and do all I can to improve the county.”

A new law passed in 2016, SB 2438, says all superintendents in the state must be appointed rather than elected.

The bill took effect January 1, 2019, but superintendents elected before then were allowed to serve out their terms.

Lawson will replace Dr. Lela Hale, who has served since winning a special election three years ago.

He was in Marshall County earlier this week to meet with Hale and start the transition process.

“It’s going to be a unique transition – starting in the middle of the school year,” he said. “So many things are already in place.

“The next couple of months I just want to familiarize myself with Marshall County, get a closer look at the accountability model and see where we need to make gains, and also focus on the graduation rate.”

He is moving from an A district, as far as the state’s accountability ratings, to a C district.

Lawson said the goals for the Marshall County School District under his leadership will come later.

“You don’t crank the bus until you see what direction you want to go,” he said. “I want to talk to the people and get to know them and find out what they feel about the district.

“I want to establish a plan that the people will buy into and then move from that point forward.”

Lawson, 47, has worked in the Tishomingo County School District the last 15 years, 10 of those in administration. Prior to moving to the central office, he was assistant principal and then principal of Iuka Middle School.

He is in his 23rd year in education, also previously working as a teacher and coach.

Lawson graduated from Biggersville High School and attended Northeast Mississippi Community College. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1995 from Mississippi State University and later completed his educational leadership certification at the University of North Alabama.

He said he went through the Mississippi School Boards Association’s Superintendent Academy three years ago and had not previously applied for any superintendent positions.

“This opportunity (in Marshall County) sort of came out of left field,” Lawson said. “It happened quickly.”

A member of the search committee, with the Mississippi School Boards Association, made him aware of the job and “thought it might be the right fit for me,” Lawson said.

He applied, interviewed with the Marshall County District School Board of Trustees Saturday, Dec. 7, and got the job.

“The main thing is for the district to understand where we are, where we want to go and figure out how to get there,” Lawson said.

“An accountability rating doesn’t always show what is going on in a district. We want to have a well-rounded district.

“We must give the teachers what they need to do their jobs. Then the accountability model will take care of itself.

“Good teachers are the key. And the teachers and the students need to know they are the heart of any school district.”

Lawson’s wife, Abbie, is the secretary at Tishomingo County High School. They have a son, Kamden, 5, who is in kindergarten.

The family will make the move to Marshall County, likely after the completion of this school year.