Starkville Oktibbeha School District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Vernita Wilson has been selected as part of the 2023-2024 Mississippi Education Policy Fellowship Program (MS EPFP). The program is an initiative of the national Institute for Educational Leadership and is hosted through the Mississippi State University Social Science Research Center.
This year's 16-member Fellowship includes representatives from two-year and four-year institutions of higher learning, administrators and educators from preK-12 education as well as education-focused nonprofit organizations. The cohort will focus on rural education, including the role of rural schools in communities and the workforce, and the specific needs and concerns of these schools in policy and practice.
"Dr. Wilson has brought a wealth of experience to our district working with schools across the state to support professional development of teachers and enhance classroom instruction," SOSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee said. "She is an excellent addition to MS EPFP, and I look forward to seeing how her experience can impact the future of rural education policy through the important work of the Fellows."
Wilson joined the Starkville Oktibbeha School District in July as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. She has more than 17 years of experience in public education and educational sales with organizations including Bailey Education Group, Jackson Public Schools, and Alcorn State University.
The Mississippi Education Policy Fellowship Program provides members with opportunities for networking, leadership growth and learning centered on the legislative process and how policies are developed and appropriated.
“Across the year, we will hear from a variety of speakers and panelists whose work intersects with education policy and practice. Many are alumni of the MS EPFP program who have gone on to leadership roles across the state,” said Devon Brenner, SSRC director and program director.
Organizations and agencies involved include the Mississippi Community College Board, AccelerateMS, Woodward Hines Education Foundation, National Rural Education Association and the Mississippi Department of Education.
Next spring, the fellows travel to Washington, D.C., where they and program peers from around the country will meet with their respective elected representatives and leaders of the Institute for Educational Leadership.
For more information about the Mississippi Education Policy Fellowship Program and the 2023-2024 cohort, visit https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2023/10/mississippi-education-policy-fellows-announced-msu-study-rural-education.