Harrison County has officially named a new school superintendent.
Following an announcement that longtime frontman Mitchell King would be stepping down from his position at the end of the current school year, leaders began searching for his replacement. On Monday, the Harrison County School Board of Trustees settled upon William Bentz to take the reins beginning July 1.
Bentz takes over operations at public schools in the district after spending two years as a principal at West Wortham Elementary and Middle School in Saucier. Prior to his time as principal, Bentz spent over a decade as a teacher, coach, and administrator from the elementary ranks all the way up to high school.
A product of the Harrison County School District, the new superintendent graduated from Harrison Central High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s of science from the University of Southern Mississippi. He also holds a specialist degree in educational leadership from Arkansas State University.
Harrison County hosts the fourth largest school district in Mississippi with 24 education centers and more than 14,000 pupils.