Latest news with #MississippiDepartmentofEducation
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Former superintendent indicted in AI child porn case involving teacher: Records
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Former Corinth School District superintendent Edward Childress has been indicted in connection with an investigation into an ex-middle school teacher accused of creating AI porn using students' images. The arrest of former Corinth teacher Wilson Frederick Jones led to the termination of Childress' contract as superintendent of Corinth schools. He has now been indicted on state and federal charges in connection with the investigation. WREG has followed this story since Jones' arrest. Jones is accused of using Artificial Intelligence to morph pictures of several students in his class, turning them into explicit material. Parent concerned over ex-MS teacher accused of AI porn videos of students According to reports, the content was created on his school-issued computer in November 2024. Jones's activity triggered a program with the school system that scans for illicit content being downloaded or shared. Court documents show that Childress knew about the explicit material in November, but did not notify the Mississippi Department of Education until January. The evidence was seized on Mar. 3, and Jones was arrested on Mar. 12. The indictment states that Childress concealed the acts by permitting Jones to resign his position as a teacher at the Corinth School District and misrepresented the reason behind Jones's resignation to the school board. None of the students involved, between the ages of 14 and 16, were aware of what Jones was allegedly doing. Parents expressed their concerns following the arrest, knowing that Superintendent Childress was aware of the illicit content, but did not report it until months later. Parent concerned over ex-MS teacher accused of AI porn videos of students 'We need to know. We need to know what's going on at our schools and with our children, and not only our own but anybody else's children,' said Jasmica Wade. Childress was subsequently fired. Jones and Childress have each been indicted on three counts. Jones is also facing charges of production and possession of a morphed image of child pornography at the state level. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mississippi third-graders set record in reading assessment
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced 25,399 (77.3%) of third graders passed the initial administration of the third-grade reading assessment given this spring for the 2024-25 school year. This is a record-high number of third graders who passed the test, according to the agency. 'These results are outstanding. The MDE applauds all educators and families across the state that make literacy a priority,' said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. 'With a continued emphasis on the science of reading as well as implementation of high-quality instructional materials, we believe Mississippi students will continue to make progress.' Jackson Public Schools hiring certified teachers and staff A total of 32,839 third graders took the assessment. In 2023-24, 75.7% of third graders passed the initial administration of the reading assessment. After the final retests in 2023-24, 84% of third graders passed the test. In accordance with the Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA), third graders who do not pass the initial administration of the reading test are given up to two attempts to retest. Students who did not pass the initial reading assessment retested in early May. The second retest window is June 16-27. To see the district- and school-level initial pass rate report for 2024-25, click here. According to MDE, the final district-level pass rates will be published this fall in the Literacy-Based Promotion Act Annual Report of Performance and Student Retention for the 2024-25 school year. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How much do Mississippi teachers make? Report ranks MS education salaries last in country
Mississippi teachers had the lowest average salary in the U.S. for the 2023-24 school year, according to recently published reports by the National Education Association. The data looked at average teacher salaries and the average pay for starting teachers for the state. California came in at the top of both lists. While Mississippi was last in overall teacher pay, it ranked higher when considering only new teacher compensation. The rankings come when the state and nation fight a teacher shortage. Data released by the Mississippi Department of Education in December outlines teacher, administrator, and school support staff vacancies. As of the fall semester, the state had almost 3,000 open teacher positions in K-12 schools. How is the state working to fill those gaps? Here's what you need to know about how Mississippi pays teachers and how it compares to other states. See how teacher pay is pacing with inflation nationally, and learn where the state has the most available teacher positions. What is the average Mississippi teacher salary? The 2023-24 NEA Rankings and Estimates report showed that the average teacher in the Magnolia State made $53,507 last year. This is a 0.7% increase from the previous year's average salary of $53,354. Additionally, this figure is more than $18,000 lower than the nationwide average of $72,030. California pays $101,084. How does Mississippi rank in pay for new teachers? Mississippi's average teacher starting salary for the 2023-24 school year was $42,492, according to the NEA Teacher Salary Benchmark Report. It ranked 40th in the nation. This figure is just over $4,000 higher than the national average starting teacher salary of $46,526. California pays $58,409. The lowest-paying state was Montana at $35,674. According to the benchmark report, starting teacher salaries across the United States "picked up a little momentum" last year, increasing by an average of 4.4%. This jump marks the most significant increase over the 15 years NEA has been tracking this data. You can read both reports online at Salary increases vs inflation amid an ongoing teacher shortage While educators have begun to see "long-overdue pay increases," partly thanks to union advocacy both at the bargaining table and with state legislature, the average teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation, NEA said. When adjusted for inflation, according to the report, teachers make on average 5% less than they did 10 years ago and 9% less than the peak in 2009-10. Last year, the national average teacher salary saw an increase of 3.8%, just below the 4% increase reported the year before and still less than 2009-10. While the data shows that salaries have improved, NEA says that they are "still likely too low to make any lasting positive impact on teacher recruitment and retention." These reports come amid an ongoing teacher shortage, both in Mississippi and across the country. This crisis, fueled by retention challenges and a drop in the number of students seeking teaching degrees, was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. More: Head Start cut would put Mississippi's new status as early education national leader at risk Where does Mississippi have teacher shortages? The short answer is "everywhere." The Office of Teaching and Learning ran the Educator Shortage Survey from Aug. 20 to Nov. 1. All traditional public schools responded, including staff vacancies (or anticipated vacancies) and their strategies to handle the issue. Mississippi had 2,964 vacant teacher positions. There were 189 more unfilled jobs since the 2023-24 school year, and 72 fewer since 2021-22. According to the report, the spots were at the following grade levels: Elementary Teachers (PreK-6th): 847. Middle School Teachers: 418. High School Teachers: 896. K-12 Teachers (i.e., Music): 803. The largest shortage was in Mississippi's Second Congressional District with 964, followed by the Third at 890, the Fourth at 644 and the First at 466. Another 228 spots for licensed educators were open. Library/Media: 49. Counselor: 72. Speech/Language: 107. Across the state, there were also 98 unfilled administrator seats. Forty-three were for principal positions, and 55 were for assistance principals. Almost 1,900 spots for support staff also weren't filled. Roles include teacher assistants (530), nurse (56), custodian (233), bus driver (533), food service staff (403) and administrative assistant (115). How is the state working to fight teacher shortage? According to the December data, the state launched a three-prong approach to get new talent and keep the teachers they have. The Educator Talent Portal in the Mississippi Educator Career Continuum Archive is meant to boost recruiting ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. Open jobs will be advertised across the state and the U.S. The state is reviewing educator licensure requirements to find ways to address shortages in specific subjects. They're focusing on elementary, math and special education. And a new program, Leading Education Achievement in Districts and Schools (LEADS), aims to be "a structured focus on effective district and school administration." The state also previously launched new alternate-route options for some students to get a Master of Arts in Teaching and/or a supplemental endorsement. Mississippi also has a teacher residency program, which puts student teachers in the classroom with support from mentors. More: 'Detrimental' to school kids: MS education department set to lose $137M in COVID funds What are the Top 10 states paying teachers the most? The 10 states (and Washington, D.C.) with the highest average teacher salary during the 2023-24 school year, according to the NEA, were: California: $101,084. New York: $95,615. Massachusetts: $92,076. Washington: $91,720. District of Columbia: $86,663. Connecticut: $86,511. Maryland: $84,338. New Jersey: $82,877. Rhode Island: $82,189. Alaska: $78,256. More: New degree programs for JSU, Mississippi State and Southern Miss approved by IHL What are the Top 10 states paying teachers the least? The 10 states with the lowest average teacher salary during the 2023-24 school year, according to the NEA, were: Mississippi: $53,704. Florida: $54,875. Missouri: $55,132. West Virginia: $55,516. Louisiana: $55,911. South Dakota: $56,328. Montana: $57,556. Kansas: $58,146. North Carolina: $58,292. Kentucky: $58,325. Amanda Wallace covers breaking news and trending topics in North Jersey. Email her at AMWallace@ Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@ This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS teacher salaries ranked dead last in US, new report says
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mississippi announces 2025 Administrator, Teacher of the Year
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced the 2025 Mississippi Administrator of the Year and the 2025 Mississippi Teacher of the Year. Administrator of the Year – Dr. Marsha Peoples, principal at East Flora Elementary School in the Madison County School District Teacher of the Year – Ashley Barefoot, teacher at Longleaf Elementary School in the Lamar County School District The winners were announced at a program on April 25 led by MDE's Office of Teaching and Leading at the Jackson Convention Complex. The program celebrated all school districts' top 2025 administrators of the year and teachers of the year as well as recognized the 2025 Mississippi Parent of the Year Anna Jones, a mother of two with one student in the Clarksdale Municipal School District. USM, GCBC start Executive Leadership Academy in Mississippi The annual Mississippi Administrator of the Year program honors an administrator who demonstrates superior ability to inspire teachers, to employ exemplary leadership practices and to participate as an active member of the community. The recipient receives a $5,000 stipend and shares expertise through various presentations and activities for the improvement of education in the state. The annual Mississippi Teacher of the Year program recognizes an exemplary teacher in the state who inspires students, demonstrates leadership both inside and outside the classroom and serves as an active member of the community. The award recipient also receives a $5,000 stipend and will share expertise through various presentations and activities. Barefoot will represent Mississippi in the National Teacher of the Year competition. The alternate 2025 Mississippi Administrator of the Year is Zane Thomas, principal at Houston High School in the Chickasaw County School District; and the alternate 2025 Mississippi Teacher of the Year is Tobie Lambert, teacher at Mississippi School of the Arts. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mississippi students may no longer have to pass U.S. history assessment test to graduate
The Mississippi Board of Education voted to receive public comment on whether to eliminate the state U.S. history test as a high school graduation requirement. The Commission on School Accreditation had voted in a special meeting on April 15 to eliminate the test. Chief Accountability Officer Paula Vanderford argued the benefits of eliminating the test, noting scores from the U.S. history test aren't included in the Mississippi Department of Education's accountability report cards. If approved, the statewide U.S. History Mississippi Academic Assessment Program test would no longer be a graduation requirement beginning this fall. Mississippi students would still be required to take and pass U.S. history class to graduate from high school. Those who had to repeat senior year of high school would have to take other options. Vanderford suggested requiring a college and career readiness course as an alternative. Getting rid of the test, she said, would save the state money and add more weight to the other three state assessments: Algebra, Biology, and English. The board voted to open the move to public comment period. After that, it will come back to the board for a final vote in June. 'One point that we talked about in the subcommittee and have talked about at great length with the accountability task force is that we're one of the few states with high stakes assessments or high-stakes end-of-course assessments for graduation, so it's been quite a number of years since we've taken a look at that to see if we wanted to go with a different route,' said Vanderford. Some members of the board expressed concern that taking out the history test would have a negative impact on students' historical knowledge. Mary Werner, who voted against removing the test, stated 'I think history is so important, and American history is just…even from a former English teacher's point of view, if you don't have the history, you have a hard time understanding the literature,' said Mary Werner, who did not support removing the test. She voted not to move the issue to public comment. Vanderford explained that passing the history course would be enough to demonstrate mastery of the subject. Board of Education Chair Glen East was also expressed concerned, but said he was confident that Mississippi's history curriculum was strong. He ultimately voted to move the issue to public comment. 'I do not see us going backwards based on the plain increase in the curriculum and the rigor we have placed on it.' Kelly Riley, executive director of Mississippi Professional Educators, commented that she wasn't surprised by the decision. 'I think due to the evolving accreditation model as well as the amount of time that is required to be spent preparing for and administering state tests, I can't say that I'm surprised by today's decision,' she said. This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
