Peasant tours district schools
Incoming Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Superintendent Eddie Peasant toured district schools Friday, along with members of the school board.
Peasant has served as a band teacher and administrator in Mississippi and Florida, and is leaving an assistant superintend dent position with the Tupelo Public School District to take the SOCSD’s top position. Peasant was picked from a pool of three finalists, and will replace retiring Superintendent Lewis Holloway, who will step down in June after a 40-plus year career in education.
“It’s been great getting to see the principals, getting to see what they do and what their students are doing, and also getting a chance to just look at the facilities, the physical aspect,” Peasant said.
Peasant said he hoped to have “21st century schools” in the district under his leader.
“There will be some things that we’ll do technology-wise to bring our opportunities here up to date,” Peasant said.
Peasant said the under-construction $27.5 million Starkville/Mississippi State University Partnership School would embrace this 21st century concept and voiced support of the project at a reception held for him Thursday night at the Greensboro Center.
While he is new to the Starkville community, Peasant said he has found the area very welcoming.
“He seems very easy to work with and work for,” said Starkville High School Principal Sean McDonnall. “He’s pointing out things that we do well, and I’m showing him different things that I think we do well, and things we’re trying to do.”
School Board Member Anne Stricklin said Peasant’s ability to listen was a big factor in the school board’s decision to hire him.
“It’s great to show off our system to our new leader, and to help him to get to know our different teachers, programs and principals that are doing such a
great job,” Stricklin said.
Stricklin added that it was also good for her and the other board members to have an opportunity to tour the schools with Peasant.
“I have been impressed by how committed he seems to be right off the bat,” said
School Board Member Melissa Luckett, who was involved in the hiring process as a stakeholder and parent. “I sense that, because he’s remembering names very quickly. He’s identifying faces and putting them in positions already, in terms of knowing who people are and just being relatable to people. He’s very approachable.”
Peasant’s official start date with the district is July 1,although he will spend time in the district leading up to his start date, in order to fully learn the district and the community. He will be replaced as Assistant Superintendent of the TSD by TSD Director of Operations Andy Cantrell.
“I’m looking forward
to learning what (Peasant) wants and growing to his expectations,” McDonnall said. I’m just very excited about having him come on board.”
In addition to Peasant, the district has also announced the hire of Christy Maulding as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, replacing Jody Woodrum in that position.