Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Assistant Superintendent Anna Guntharp has received the 2026 National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators State Leadership Award. She is one of five recipients from Mississippi and only forty nationwide to earn the honor this year. Award-winners were recognized at the national NAFEPA conference in Washington, D.C. in March.
"There is no one more deserving of this state-wide and national honor than Anna Guntharp," said SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee. "Mrs. Guntharp is a continual advocate for students, teachers and families in our district and works to support them with the resources available through federal grants. She does a tremendous job administering our federal funding so that students and families receive the biggest impact possible. We are very proud of her for earning this award."
NAFEPA is the primary professional organization providing support, ongoing education, and leadership development for educators serving in the field of federal education grant programs. State Leadership Award recipients are nominated and selected by their peers for demonstrating a strong commitment to ensuring high quality education and meaningful support for students and families. The NAFEPA awards recognize leaders from state districts who have excelled in their efforts to strengthen programs, expand opportunity and create lasting impact across their communities.
Guntharp joined the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District in 2018 as Assistant Superintendent for Federal Programs, Special Education and Preschool. Prior to that, her career in education has allowed her to serve as a teacher, principal and district administrator in a variety of areas including middle school, elementary school, and Curriculum and Instruction before concentrating in Federal Programs, where she now has more than ten years of experience. She says the opportunity to support SOCSD classrooms with the resources available through Federal grants is a worthy motivation.
"I have now worked in Federal Programs for over 10 years," Guntharp said. "What continues to motivate me is the opportunity to use resources strategically to support students, strengthen schools, and help our district reach its goals."
She is quick to note that the NAFEPA State Leadership Award is a testament to the work that can come from the district and community working together toward a shared goal of a high-quality education for every child.
"Receiving this award is truly an honor, and I see it as a reflection of the accomplishments of our entire school district and the greater Starkville community," she said. "Our community has become a model for what can happen when people stay focused on a shared belief–that every child deserves access to a high-quality education.
Federal Programs provide funding and resources that impact many areas of the district from food service and academic intervention to pre-kindergarten and parent engagement. But, Guntharp says the federal grant programs that serve SOCSD are about much more than funding. She has seen how they support partnerships among educators, with parents and with the community that help everyone achieve their goals. She credits her time as a building-level principal with providing key experience and an understanding of how those partnerships with teachers, administrators, students and families can make a difference.
"When I moved into administration and served as a principal for seven years, it was incredibly formative for me as a leader," she shared. "I had the opportunity to work closely with teachers, students, and parents, which was such a rewarding time in my life. Now, it's still one of the most rewarding parts of my job to work with our school leadership to help them meet goals they have set for student achievement. I also find great joy in supporting our teachers by making sure they have the resources and tools they need to do the incredible work that happens in our classrooms every single day. They are the difference-makers."
Federal funds have allowed the district to provide additional staff who work directly with students needing extra support to meet academic standards, particularly in reading and math. Guntharp says the largest portion of SOCSD federal dollars goes toward salaries and benefits for teachers, interventionists and support staff who serve students directly.
In addition, Federal Programs is a key driver for the growth of the SOCSD Pre-K program, providing funding and resources. When Guntharp joined the district, pre-kindergarten was very limited and only available as a tuition-based program. It has expanded under her leadership to provide free Pre-K services to hundreds more students across the district in partnership with the Starkville Oktibbeha Early Learning Collaborative.
"Today, we have sixteen Pre-K classrooms that are free for our four-year-olds, ensuring that socio-economic status is not a barrier to early learning," Guntharp said. "That progress makes me especially proud."
SOCSD Federal Programs also provides support for district English Learners (EL)and for students with dyslexia. Both areas have expanded during Guntharp's tenure with the district through the hiring of EL staff at the district and school level as well as adding two Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALT) to serve students with dyslexia. Federal Programs has also provided professional development for staff including training in multi-sensory instruction and even learning opportunities for parents to help them offer greater support for students at home.
Guntharp says that getting parents involved at school and engaged in learning at home along with supporting them with training has a greater impact than many people realize.
"I would love our parents and community to know just how powerful their involvement truly is," she said. "When families stay engaged, communicate with their child’s teacher, and support learning at home, it strengthens everything we are doing in the classroom. That partnership between school and home is one of the most critical components of student success, and we are grateful for the support our community continues to provide."
As Guntharp prepares to retire from education at the end of the calendar year, it is fitting to cap her career with this state-wide honor, placing her in an elite group nationally. But, she is more reflective about the people served than any accolade.
"I am continually amazed by the strength and resilience of our classroom teachers," she said. "Having served as both a teacher and a principal myself, I will never forget the responsibility they carry each day and the heart they pour into their work. That perspective has stayed with me throughout my career."
If the work I have done behind the scenes has helped support them in any way—whether by providing resources, removing barriers, or creating opportunities for students—then that is what I am most proud of," Guntharp continued. "Knowing that those efforts have contributed, even in a small way, to making a positive difference in the lives of the children in this amazing community means more to me than any recognition or award ever could."