The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) has named Dr. Ray Morgigno as interim superintendent of education.
Morgigno, who has nearly 30 years of experience working in public education, will officially assume the position on July 1.
Positions held in the past by Morgigno include teacher, assistant principal, principal, and district superintendent with Pearl Public School District. He currently serves as executive director of the East Mississippi Center for Educational Development.
“Dr. Morgigno is a lifelong educator and public servant who brings a wealth of experience in public education in Mississippi,” SBE vice chair Glen East said. “The board is confident he will continue the great strides Mississippi has made in public education over the past decade as we conduct the search for a permanent superintendent.”
During his 12 years leading the Pearl Public School District, Morgigno helped the district to its first-ever A rating in 2017. A graduate of Delta State University, Morgigno also holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Mississippi and a doctorate in educational administration from Mississippi State University.
Morgigno will succeed Mike Kent, who has been serving on an interim basis since April 3. The movement at the top of the state’s education system has come in the aftermath of the Senate voting to reject Dr. Robert Taylor as state superintendent back in March, citing the amount of time Taylor has spent in-state and his so-called support of “critical race theory.”
