Dr. Donna Boone began serving as the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Chief Academic Officer in March 2023. Dr. Boone has been superintendent of the Forrest County Agricultural School District (FCAHS) for the past six years and previously served as superintendent of the Quitman School District. She has had experiences in K–16 education in Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana. Her […]
Advisory Board
Melissa Shields
Melissa Shields (Ed.D.) currently serves as the assistant state superintendent of student learning for the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). Prior to this role, she led the ALSDE Office of School Improvement. She coordinates with community and industry organizations to align resources and human capital with whole-child needs in schools, including attendance, mental health, and social-emotional learning. Dr. Shields has presented […]
Alissa Hobart
Alissa Hobart is an esteemed educator that has worked in several capacities. She has served as an elementary teacher, special education teacher, and as a founding team member for the first rural charter school in Mississippi. Originally from Wisconsin, Alissa graduated from Vanderbilt University and began her teaching career as a Teach for America Corp Member in Clarksdale, Mississippi. She […]
Carlos Nelson
Dr. Carlos Nelson has been in the education field for more than 25 years, serving in the capacity of a classroom teacher, coach, interim principal, assistant principal, principal, federal programs coordinator, curriculum director, career technical education coordinator, textbook coordinator, and district drug testing coordinator. He is currently the superintendent of Sheffield City Schools. During his career in education, Dr. Nelson has been an active member of the Council of Leaders […]
Teresha Jones
Teresha Jones, Ed.D, serves as the principal of Central High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Throughout her 17 years of experience in education, she has served as a basketball coach, a middle and high school English teacher, a college English instructor, a curriculum specialist, and an assistant principal before serving as Instructional Leader at her alma mater. Dr. Jones was a […]