Kim S. Benton
Dr. Kim S. Benton is Mississippi’s State Superintendent of Education, interim. Dr. Benton served as Chief Academic Officer/Deputy State Superintendent with the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) from 2012 to 2018, leading the implementation of hallmark initiatives including the Early Childhood Collaborative Act, Mississippi K–12 College and Career Ready Standards, and the Literacy-Based Promotion Act.
Dr. Benton has served as a consultant and trainer for the Academic Development Institute, providing leadership services to the National Comprehensive Center, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, and multiple state departments of education and Regional Comprehensive Centers. She has served as Associate Professor in Educational Leadership at William Carey University and as an adjunct instructor for Mississippi State University and the University of West Alabama.
A veteran educator and leader, Dr. Benton started her career as an assistant teacher and later served as a teacher, principal, and district director of federal programs and special populations programs. Her numerous awards include the National Association of Elementary School Principals’ National Distinguished Principal. She has served in multiple state and national leadership roles, including past president of the Mississippi Early Childhood Association and Mississippi Professional Educators, the Mississippi Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Advisory Board, and National Assessment Governing Board Task Force.
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