SHS’s Baggett promoted to assistant superintendent

Starkville High School Principal David Baggett will fill the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District’s newly created assistant superintendent position.
The SOCSD Board of Trustees voted 4-0 to accept Superintendent Lewis Holloway’s recommendation to hire Baggett as the assistant superintendent for personnel and secondary curriculum/instruction.
Five candidates were interviewed for the position. Baggett will take over the new position July 1, approximately two years after becoming SHS principal.
“I really have mixed emotions on this,” Baggett said. “I absolutely love the kids and the staff that I work with at Starkville High School. It’s the best school I’ve ever worked at, without a doubt. The most dedicated staff I’ve ever worked with. On the other hand, very excited that I’ll be able to work with them, the students and broaden my scope to work with all employees in the district to try and help provide the best education possible for the students here in the school district.”
Baggett will work alongside assistant superintendents Toriano Holloway and Jody Woodrum, whom he said have been “instrumental” to him during his time at SHS. In the new position, Baggett will supervise the personnel department and focus on coordinating instruction in grades 8 through 12.
Board member Eddie Myles said he was glad to see an internal candidate hired.
“I’m glad we were able to have candidates in-house so we could show other administrators that if they stay in the district they can move up and be given some type of higher employment in this district,” Myles said.
Board President Jenny Turner said she hopes to have a search committee for a new Starkville High principal put together as soon as possible.
Baggett, who figures to play a role in the hire of his replacement, said he is looking for someone that is innovative, can engage all stakeholders and is willing to lead the SHS staff.
“They’ve got to do it collaboratively,” Baggett said. “No one person can absolutely run any high school with an iron fist. It may work temporarily, but in the long run, it’ll be a bad situation.”
Filling the assistant superintendent position was the only action taken during Thursday’s special called board meeting.