Jackson Free Press

Last night, the Jackson Public School Board voted to name Jayne Sargent the district's interim superintendent.

Though she has not yet signed her one-year contract for $175,000, Sargent is expected to begin her term July 1, when Jackson Public Schools superintendent Lonnie Edwards' contract expires. The school board voted not to renew Edwards' contract last December, and Edwards appealed their decision. The board has not voted on the fate of Edwards' contract.

The board voted 5-2 last night to hire Sargent as interim superintendent, with Otha Burton and Tim Collins voting in opposition. If the board chooses to renew Edwards' contract in a subsequent vote, he will resume his position.

Sargent, a Lucedale native, attended Tougaloo College for her undergraduate work and received her master's degree in library sciences from Atlanta University. She received her doctorate in educational leadership from Mississippi State University.

The titles Sargent has held during her career in public education include: librarian, teacher, curriculum coordinator, assistant principal, principal, deputy superintendent and superintendent of Meridian and Jackson Public Schools.
 
Sargent was the first woman to serve as superintendent of Jackson Public Schools and held the position from 1997 to 2002, when she retired.

Jackson Public Schools Board President Kisiah Nolan served as principal of Pecan Park Elementary School under Sargent.

"I support her because of the skills that she possesses to get the job done," Nolan said. "She is quite a task master. She began her work as a teacher, then a principal and became a superintendent. I think that speaks well of the type of skills she has."

Board member George Schimmel's children attended school in the district during Sargent's tenure.

"She paid attention to detail. She was people oriented and academically very strong," Schimmel said. "I think she has the skills to move the district forward."

Sargent is the recipient of the first Jayne Burrows Sargent Leadership Award from Mississippi State University, an annual award presented to women in educational leadership. She was also one of 10 educational leaders awarded the first-ever Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards from e-School News. She also received the 2002 Friendship Award at the Jackson 2000's 10th Annual Friendship Ball. Jackson 2000 is a nonprofit group that works to improve race relations in the metro area.

Previous Comments

ID

163919

Comment

I applaud this choice... she'll do what has to be done until they can select a superintendent, and hopefully this time they will get it right. I am hopefull that this vote (5-2) would also be same if they were voting on renewal of his contract. keep your fingers crossed X

Author

833WMaple

Date

2011-06-28T15:05:08-06:00