Mississippi teachers shared their perspective from the classroom with Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, during the first round of meetings of the inaugural Mississippi Teacher Council (MTC). Close to 50 teachers met with Wright in September at gatherings in Hattiesburg, Jackson and Oxford.
Council members provide feedback to Wright on the initiatives of the Mississippi Department of Education, the Mississippi State Board of Education and the Mississippi State Legislature. The MTC aims to empower teachers to discuss topics critical to their success in the classroom and how MDE can assist.
More than 150 teachers from around the state submitted applications to serve on the MTC.
The Hattiesburg American reported that Lenette Stinson, a fourth-grade inclusion teacher at Petal Elementary, was impressed with the first meeting.
“Dr. Wright was very open to suggestions and wanted us to be part of what was happening in Mississippi,” she said. “She listened to concerns and was receptive. I didn’t feel like we were just there to have a meeting. I feel like things are going to get done.”
Read more: Local teachers’ voices heard on new state council, Hattiesburg American, Oct. 2, 2016