MSU-M Division of Education

We enjoyed attending and tabling at the Time is Right Conference held at the Riley Center. It was a great opportunity to connect with educators, counselors, administrators, and community partners from across the region while sharing information about our programs and opportunities.

We were also proud to have Dr. Lori Wilcher present two sessions, Behavior Across the Rings of Life, at 11:00 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Dr. Wilcher’s presentation explored how the many environments, roles, and life experiences surrounding students with disabilities and their families can influence behavior, stress, and crisis patterns. Participants gained practical strategies to reduce stress and strengthen supports across the many rings of daily life.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table and attended Dr. Wilcher’s sessions!

The Mississippi State University–Meridian Division of Education was excited to welcome participants attending the East Mississippi Center for Educational Development (EMCED) Principal Bootcamp.

During the bootcamp, participants engaged in professional learning focused on educational leadership. We were honored to celebrate 11 educators as they received their certificates of completion for the EMCED–MSU Leadership Institute. Congratulations to each of these individuals on this accomplishment and their continued commitment to serving schools and students across Mississippi!

Day 2 of our Summer Training & Development was another great day for our MATE students and mentors!

They participated in sessions on Math, Science, ELA, and Social Studies instructional strategies before visiting the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX) and the Mississippi Children’s Museum. These experiences gave students the opportunity to see how creativity, hands-on learning, and real-world connections can enhance classroom instruction.

MSU-Meridian gives a big shout-out and congratulations to Michelle Stubbs, who recently received the Donnie Prisock Excellence in Access and Engagement Award.

An assistant teaching professor in MSU-Meridian’s Division of Education, Stubbs is celebrated for leading transformational, systems-level initiatives that strengthen Mississippi’s teacher workforce while expanding access to high-quality preparation pathways for aspiring educators statewide.

MSU’s College of Education honors faculty, staff with teaching, research, service awards MSU’s College of Education honors faculty, staff with teaching, research, service awards Pictured from left are Kyle Baggerly, Betty Purvis Staff Award; Michelle Stubbs, Donnie Prisock Excellence in Access and Engagement Award; Stephanie Lemley, Herb Handley Research Award; Beca Spencer, Cindy Ros...

We enjoyed welcoming our Master of Arts in Teaching – Elementary Alternate Route (MAT-ELAR) students to campus for Day 1 of their Summer Training & Development Institute!

Students spent the day participating in sessions focused on building classroom communities, strengthening communication skills, developing effective questioning techniques, and preparing for success in the classroom. It was great to see everyone connecting, collaborating, and growing together as they begin another year in the program.

We look forward to sharing highlights from Day 2 tomorrow!

The MSU Division of Education enjoyed attending the Making Connections Conference in Biloxi! We loved connecting with educators from across the state and sharing information about our programs, scholarships, and opportunities available through Mississippi State and MSU-Meridian Division of Education.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table, picked up materials, and visited with us. We always enjoy meeting passionate educators and being part of conversations that support student success across Mississippi!

Join us in celebrating our Division of Education Outstanding Student Award recipients! We are incredibly proud of these exceptional students and their hard work, dedication, and achievements. Read more about our award winners below and help us congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition!

Congratulations to MSU-Meridian's Outstanding students!
Read about them here: https://www.meridian.msstate.edu/news/2026/05/seven-msu-meridian-outstanding-students-recognized-during-spring-commencement

We had the opportunity to celebrate a very special milestone during our Freeman Scholars Breakfast on graduation morning. 🎓

We proudly recognized the first class of PANTA Scholars through the Freeman PANTA Teacher Assistant Annual Scholarship, generously funded by Mr. Harry Freeman in memory of his wife. The scholarship supports public school teacher assistants as they pursue their education degrees and continue making a difference in the classroom.

Congratulations again to our PANTA Scholars and all of our Division of Education graduates!

Freeman Scholar Spotlight: Victoria Pigg
Victoria is among the first graduating class of the Bebe Freeman PANTA Teacher’s Assistant Annual Scholarship, generously funded by Harry Freeman in memory of his wife. The scholarship supports public school teacher assistants pursuing an education degree.

Victoria is a teacher assistant at Leake Central Elementary School and, with her newly earned bachelor’s degree in elementary education, will step into a new role as a fourth-grade math teacher there this fall!

“To teach is to change a life forever, and that belief is the reason I chose to become an educator. The Harry Freeman Scholarship has given me the opportunity to continue pursuing my education and preparing to make a meaningful impact in the classroom.”

Congratulations, Victoria! 🍎🎓️

Help us congratulate this EPOD doctoral graduate on successfully defending her capstone and graduating last Wednesday!

Originally from Greenwood and Jackson, Mississippi, she chose the EPOD program to deepen her understanding of how educational policy and systems impact student outcomes, particularly for underserved and nontraditional learners. The program aligned closely with her passion for bridging the gap between policy and classroom practice.

Her capstone focused on the misalignment between traditional curriculum pacing structures and the needs of students in accelerated secondary education programs. Through her research, she examined how fixed pacing guides impact students working within compressed learning timelines and developed a modified pacing framework designed to support mastery, instructional equity, and student success through scaffolding, differentiation, and structured feedback.

Following graduation, she plans to continue serving as an educational leader and advocate for equitable instructional practices by supporting curriculum development, mentoring educators, and contributing to policy conversations that improve outcomes for students in alternative and accelerated learning settings.

She shared that the EPOD program was a transformative journey that challenged her to think critically, lead with purpose, and connect research to real-world educational problems.