The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District on Tuesday night announced it had unanimously selected Tupelo School District Assistant Superintendent Eddie Peasant to replace retiring Superintendent Lewis Holloway.
Peasant’s official start date is July 1. He will initially serve under a four-year contract at a salary of $180,000.
With 23 years experience as an educator and administrator, Peasant has served as a band director in the Rankin County School District and Escambia County School District in Florida. He also worked as an assistant principal of Clinton High School and as principal of Gulfport Central Middle School and Clinton High School.
He holds a master’s degree from Mississippi College and bachelors and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi. Peasant was chosen over two other finalists: Scott County Superintendent Tony McGee and Tullahoma, Tennessee Superintendent Dan Lawson in a search carried out by the Omaha-based firm McPherson and Jacobsen LLC.
“It’s really, really exciting,” Peasant said. “I’m honored to be selected to serve in the district. I’m really pleased to be part of the system, and all of the things on the horizon.”
Peasant named the Starkville/Mississippi State University Partnership School among his main priorities, and said he hopes to work closely with MSU on it and other initiatives.
”I’m just really excited for us to put in a state-of-the art school, and be on the cutting edge for our students,” Peasant said.
Peasant named the consolidation between the Starkville School District and the Oktibbeha County School District, which is entering its third year as the district’s main challenge, and also cited facilities as an additional challenge to the district.
He added that he had applied for the position because he felt he had gained the experience needed from working in several positions across several school districts.
“There are elements of all the places I’ve worked in Starkville,” Peasant said.
He expressed a desire to continue to see the district excel.
“I look forward to being one of the premier school districts in the state in academics, arts and athletics,” Peasant said. “I just want to express my thanks to the school board in Starkville for allowing me this opportunity.”