Mississippi State University College of Education Dean Richard Blackbourn, left, presents the 2018 Outstanding Administrator Award to SOCSD Superintendent Eddie Peasant. (Submitted photo)
A prestigious award has gone to Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Superintendent Eddie Peasant.
On Monday, Peasant was presented with the 2018 Outstanding Administrator award by Mississippi Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (MACTE), selected by Mississippi State University. Peasant was presented with the award by MSU College of Education Dean Richard Blackbourn at the MACTE Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony in Vicksburg. MACTE is an association of 15 both public and private institutions training teachers in Mississippi.
“We have an organization, and each district selects some educators in various categories, and Eddie was of course, our selection at Mississippi State for our administrator of the year,” Blackbourn said.
Peasant has led the district since summer 2017, and was hired on after the retirement of former SOCSD Superintendent Lewis Holloway. Prior to his current position, Peasant was employed as an assistant superintendent in the Tupelo Public School District. He has also served as principal of Clinton High School and Gulfport Central Middle School. Prior to becoming an administrator Peasant taught band at schools in Mississippi and Florida. Peasant has recently completed the Aspiring and Early Career Leaders Academy, a professional development initiative through the American Association of School Administrators. He also serves on the Mississippi Department of Education middle school and student testing task forces. In addition he serves on the board of directors for the Mississippi Association of School Administrators and as a member of the Program of Research and Evaluation for Public Schools.
“I think that it’s a sign of our partnership, and that we have a great working relationship, and they’re appreciative of things that are going on in our school district,” Peasant said. “I’m extremely honored to be recognized by them and the department.”
Peasant also lauded his leadership team and other district faculty and staff.
“I think that the most important thing is to be able to build a team to work with, and work with people who have the insight of what it takes for a school district to be successful,” Peasant said.
Blackbourn spoke highly of Peasant’s performance in his first year as a superintendent and the relationship he has built with the university.
“He has been a good partner to Mississippi State,” Blackbourn said. “We are working closely on many issues, but one that’s of great interest of course, is the partnership school. We’re working on it closely, so we’ve got a great partnership with him and other people in the district, and we were very excited to have the opportunity to recognize him for his hard work.”