Co-Lin Wesson campus Vice President Jackie Laird Martin of Bogue Chitto is one of only 28 college administrators nationwide to receive the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Distinguished College Administrator Award. Martin will be honored during PTK Catalyst 2022 in April, the society’s annual convention. The award recognizes college administrators working directly with student leaders to solve problems on campus and in their communities. These administrators have taken an active interest in supporting high-achieving students and developing student leaders. “These college administrators are beloved on campus," said Phi Theta Kappa President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. "They know students by name and by circumstance. Their nomination is evidence of the gratitude their PTK students feel for supporting them and students like them -- even during the most difficult times.” Honorees were selected from among thousands of college administrators eligible to receive the award. Of the 28 award recipients from across the country, Martin is one of only five from Mississippi. As a vice president, Martin oversees instructional programs including academic, career-technical, and workforce education; and student services including enrollment services, housing, financial aid and athletics. In previous roles at the college, she has served as Associate Vice President of Instructional Services and Dean of Career, Technical, and Workforce Education.

Today in the Hinds County Circuit Court, Nancy New and her son, Zachary New, entered a guilty plea to state charges for their involvement in one of the largest embezzlement schemes in Mississippi’s history. They both pleaded guilty to multiple counts of bribery of a public official, fraud against the government, and wire fraud. This afternoon, Nancy New and Zachary New each pleaded guilty to four counts of Bribery of a Public Official, two counts of Fraud Against the Government, and five counts of Wire Fraud. The charges are connected to a state investigation involving more than $77 million of misspent welfare funds. “Today’s plea represents a joint victory for the District Attorney’s Office, U.S Attorney’s Office and the State Auditors Office,” said Jody E. Owens II, Hinds County District Attorney. “This plea sends a message to those in positions of power, that they will be held accountable for preying on the poor and abusing government funds.” State sentencing in the case will be scheduled after Nancy New and Zachary New are sentenced in federal court. Nancy could face up to 100 years in prison and Zachary could face up to 75 years in prison. Nancy New and Zachary New have already pleaded guilty to federal charges for their involvement in multiple accounts of welfare fraud.

MERCANTILE MISSISSIPPI will be held Friday, May 6th and Saturday, May 7th, at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson. This two day Southern Shopping Event allows guest to shop Mississippi businesses and beyond in one convenient location. Boutiques, stores, artisans and more will be onsite showcasing their wares and talents. There will be music by local artists and other great stage presentations. Returning to our Stage this year will be Mississippi Magazine’s very own Patty Roper who will demonstrate a fun project while guests enjoy a formal tea catered by Fresh Cut. Tea with Patty Roper is on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Tea Tickets are $10 each and are limited. Mercantile Mississippi is grateful for the support of our sponsors, merchants and shoppers. We look forward to another successful year in 2022. Tickets to the show are available for advance purchase online at MercantileMS.com and will be available at the door for $10. For more information, please visit: MercantileMS.com.

Over the course of a year, the impact of the Merit Health network of hospitals and Merit Health Medical Group adds up as the skilled and compassionate hands of physicians, nurses and other team members deliver safe, quality care around the clock every day. Beyond clinical care, Merit Health is a major employer and regularly invests resources to expand and enhance the services available locally. The overall community benefit each year is significant and totaled more than $258.6 million in 2021. Last year, the hospitals and clinics delivered care with more than 492,000 patient visits as the pandemic heightened the need for medical care. The pandemic has heightened the need for medical care and Merit Health safely delivered a full complement of services while supporting COVID inpatients since March 2020. “We provided quality care for patients with COVID and also for other members of our community who had a broad range of medical needs,” said Barry Moss, Vice President of Operations, Merit Health, Region 4. “Our communities are truly fortunate to have this resilient and committed team of clinicians and caregivers here in Central Mississippi who make a difference for so many patients each day. We helped people get well and live healthier, and that was evident in so many ways - patients went home in better shape with less pain following surgery or a smile of relief when their screening mammogram or colonoscopy was clear.” Employees and medical staff brought their skills and compassion to support more than 15,000 inpatient admissions and performed more than 23,000 surgeries. The network also delivered joy to local families as more than 3,000 babies were born. Merit Health continues to grow and evolve as they put resources toward increased services, facilities and technologies that are important to their patients. These include the enhancement of behavioral health services through the addition of adult intensive outpatient therapy at Merit Health Rankin and the opening of an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program at Merit Health Central. They expanded the continuum of care for patients with Merit Health Madison’s new swing-bed service which allows patients to transition from acute care to a skilled nursing facility care without leaving the hospital. Advanced treatment for early-stage breast cancer patients through single-dose intraoperative radiotherapy is offered at Merit Health Woman’s Hospital and new robotic surgical systems with 3D capability were obtained at Merit Health River Oaks, which support faster recovery and precise planning, measurement and alignment for the best possible outcomes. Since 2021, more than 3,000 hearts beat stronger following cardiac catheterization at the network’s chest pain accredited hospitals. Merit Health Heart is supported by 13 cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons within Merit Health Medical Group, who work with specialists in imaging and nutrition to prevent and treat heart disease through advanced care and services to our patients. Mississippi’s only designated burn center, located at Merit Health Central, treated more than 72,000 patients in the outpatient clinic. Providers performed 2,700 burn and hand surgeries and admitted 1,000 for inpatient treatment. Merit Health’s five Emergency departments helped patients receive quality care quickly. In 2021, Merit Health hospitals accepted 2,500 transfers of patients from across the region in need of a higher level of care and treated more than 87,000 ER patients. As Merit Health works to continuously meet patients’ needs, it also gives back to the broader Central Mississippi region. The health system provided over $230.1 million in charity and uncompensated care for the community’s most vulnerable. And the $22.4 million paid in property, sales and GRT taxes helps support civic resources and services. The hospitals’ payroll of more than $178.9 million ripples across the local economy as employees buy goods and services. Moss continued, “We are part of this community and we are committed to doing all we can to provide excellent healthcare services and to making Central Mississippi a healthier, better community for all. To help the community live healthier, Merit Health launched a free e-newsletter last year with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox. Sign up at https://bit.ly/36fimcA.

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) recognized Mississippi in its latest report on pre-K quality as one of only five states whose state-funded pre-K program meets all 10 quality standards for early childhood education. The latest ranking is published in the NIEER report, The State of Preschool 2021. The annual survey provides an in-depth look at state-funded education for 3- and 4- year-olds nationally and in each state with a focus on enrollment, spending and 10 policies that support quality education. NIEER evaluated Mississippi’s Early Learning Collaborative (ELC) programs, which are partnerships among school districts, Head Start agencies, childcare centers and non-profit organizations. The program has grown from 11 collaboratives serving 1,700 children in 2014 to 30 collaboratives that will serve 6,000 children in 2022-23. Because of the quality of the Early Learning Collaboratives, Mississippi has consistently been one of only several states meeting all NIEER standards. The Mississippi Legislature passed the Early Learning Collaborative Act in 2013, which provided $3 million to establish a limited number of collaboratives in underserved areas throughout the state. Funding increased in subsequent years based on the program’s immediate success reaching $8 million by 2020-21 and doubled to $16 million in 2021-22. The Mississippi State Board of Education has made increasing access to high-quality early childhood education one of its top priorities. The Mississippi Department of Education has partnered with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to build the state’s early childhood education infrastructure through coaching and professional development and by providing guidance and support to school districts. State funds now support these efforts. “The quality of Mississippi’s Early Learning Collaborative program has made our state a national leader for early childhood education,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education for Mississippi. “Research consistently shows that high-quality early childhood education has a long-term impact on student achievement. Children who participate in high-quality pre-K programs achieve higher levels of school readiness, reading proficiency by third grade and higher graduation rates.” The proportion of Mississippi 4-year-olds enrolled in Early Learning Collaboratives rose from 3% in 2016-17 to 7% in 2020-21. When combined with Head Start (27%) and special education pre-K programs (3%), approximately 37% of Mississippi 4-year-olds attended public early childhood education programs in 2020-21. COVID-19 disruptions caused 337 fewer children to enroll in collaboratives in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20. “The pandemic has made it even clearer that such preschool programs are essential for young children and their families,” said W. Steven Barnett, Ph.D., NIEER’s founder and senior co-director. “Mississippi is moving in the right direction, doubling the state investment in preschool to enable more children to attend the program in the coming years.” Mississippi’s national ranking for pre-K improved since last year from 39th to 38th for access and 42nd to 39th in state spending per child. Read the State of Preschool Report 2020 at NIEER.org.

By Guest Columnist Gary R. Bachman It is officially spring, so we can start to get serious about our gardens and landscapes. But this is also the time we enjoy the annual northward migration of hummingbirds. So start thinking about plants that will attract hummingbirds to our landscapes. Every spring, I am asked what kinds of plants to grow to attract these visitors to the garden. Flower shape is important, and by far, plants with tubular flowers are most important. Tubular flowers have the characteristic of being able to hold quite a bit of nectar. This is part of Mother Nature’s grand plan. Nectar is simply sugar water produced by the plant, and it can be understood as an energy drink for hummingbirds. As hummingbirds use their bills to probe for nectar, they pick up pollen and transfer it to the next flower visited. Some of my favorite plants with tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds are: Lantana, which produces clusters of small, individual flowers that hummingbirds absolutely love. It is available in a wide variety of color combinations that will look great in your landscape. Salvia is also a hummingbird magnet, and it has the distinction of being one of my garden landscape must-haves. Both the annual and perennial salvia selections have a wide range of tubular flowers that hummingbirds love. The big flower heads of pentas have the power to draw hummingbirds to your yard. Clusters of small, individual, five-petal flowers cover these plants all summer long. Probably my all-time favorite -- but really, aren’t they all my favorites? -- has to be Vermillionaire cuphea. This Mississippi Medallion winner produces abundant, fiery-hot yellow, red and orange tubular flowers all over the entire plant, making a mound of blooms all summer long. Hummingbirds love them. There are times when the landscape is not producing many flowers and it’s beneficial to have hummingbird feeders hanging in the garden. There are many types and styles of feeders from which to choose. The feeder selection is up to the individual gardener, but there is only one kind of food for hummingbirds. You can buy premixed food, but it’s really easy to make your own. All you need to do is mix four parts of water with one part of white sugar. Bring it to a boil and allow to cool before filling your feeders. Some people think using honey or brown sugar would be a healthier choice, but these sugar sources can be harmful to the hummingbirds. Be sure to change the sugar solution every two or three days to avoid any bacterial growth that can occur in the feeders. I love watching hummingbirds work a group of flowers as they seemingly float up and down, back and forth as they feed. Consider planting some plants specifically to attract these little garden visitors and enjoy them with me. EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Gary Bachman is an Extension and research professor of horticulture at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi. He is also the host of the popular Southern Gardening television and radio programs.

Overdose-related deaths are on the rise in Mississippi—and all too often, the cause can be found in household medicine cabinets. That’s why Mississippians are urged to safely dispose of unneeded medications by participating in the 22nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 30. For a list of free, anonymous disposal locations in Mississippi, visit https://odfree.org/takeback. “Overdose deaths continue to hit tragic record highs, but we can take action to prevent drugs from being misused by safely disposing of unneeded medications,” said Jan Dawson, program director, Mississippi Public Health Institute. “We’re asking Mississippians to locate a disposal site in their community and drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications as soon as possible.” Overdoses are now the leading cause of death among U.S. adults 18-45. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 106,000 people died in the U.S. as the result of a drug overdose in the 12-month period ending November 2021, with opioid-related deaths accounting for 75% of all overdose deaths. A report from the Mississippi Opioid and Heroin Data Collaborative showed that drug overdose deaths in Mississippi rose by 49% in one year (2019-2020). Most people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For more than a decade, Take Back Day has helped Americans protect their families and loved ones by easily ridding their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or no longer needed—that too often become a gateway to addiction. Working in close partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has collected nearly 7,262 tons of drugs nationwide, with 27.8 tons collected in Mississippi. On April 30, DEA and its law enforcement partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs at designated drop-off sites. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illicit drugs will not be accepted. DEA will accept vaping devices and cartridges, provided lithium batteries are removed. A variety of drug collection sites in Mississippi are open year-round for safe disposal of prescription medications. As a rule, unused medications should never be thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet. Make Mississippi OD Free provides a list of 101 disposal sites and information about overdose data, prevention and treatment at https://odfree.org/takeback. Year-round receptacles are available at more than 13,000 pharmacies, hospitals, police departments and business. Additionally, with the passage of the DUMP Opioids Act in 2021, the public may now use drop boxes at Veterans Administration medical centers to dispose of controlled substance prescription medications. Check with your local VA health facility for more information. Executed by Mississippi Public Health Institute, Make Mississippi OD Free is a program administered by the Mississippi Department of Health and supported by a federal grant initiative funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program’s purpose, called Overdose to Action (OD2A), is to collect comprehensive and timely data on nonfatal and fatal overdoses to inform OD prevention and response efforts nationwide. Data for the initiative is provided by the Mississippi Opioid and Heroin Data Collaborative, a multiagency partnership among the Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Mississippi Board of Pharmacy Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Bureau of Narcotics. Learn more at https://odfree.org.

Athletes from Bogue Chitto, Brookhaven Academy, Loyd Star, Wesson and West Lincoln have signed on with Co-Lin to continue their sports careers. Eli Cupit, who played center for the Bogue Chitto Bobcat gridders, is headed to Co-Lin as a Wolfpack snapper, although his high school sports involvement encompassed powerlifting and baseball as well. Meanwhile Brookhaven Academy gridders Corey Case and Tyler Fortenberry and baseball and soccer standouts Trenton Tarver and Yosvin Henandez bring multiple athletic talents to help Co-Lin. In Case, Co-Lin picks up a new all-round kicking specialist who is recognized for his performance as a punter and field goal and point-after-touchdown kicker on the football field. Fortenberry, a quarterback who also played basketball and baseball at BA, follows his older brother Trey, a tightend, to the Co-Lin Wolfpack. Tarver is a catcher/infielder, who also will bring a power bat to Co-Lin in baseball. Hernandez scored 28 goals for a BA soccer team that posted an 18-2 record in the past season. Loyd Star's Riley Easterling, an infielder, should also help Co-Lin's run production in baseball with a strong bat. Wesson's Collin McGowen, a linebacker, should bolster Co-Lin in football on the defensive side of the football, while West Lincoln's Jackson Taylor will bring his 6-foot-5, 295-pound presence to the offensive line.

LOOK!! Free Firearms Safety Class Tuesday, May 24, 2022 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Fairgrounds, Gallman, MS The Copiah County Sheriff's Office is providing a free basic firearms safety class for the public. The purpose of the class is to provide individuals who have little to no experience with firearms with the knowledge that will allow them to safely and properly handle a firearm. The goal of the class is to instruct individuals on safety in order to prevent a firearms accident which could result in serious injury or death. DO NOT BRING FIREARMS TO THIS EVENT! Please RSVP to 601-892-2023.

The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc, held the 93rd Annual Convention in Brandon, Ms. Jean Ricks, GCM State Protocol officer calls the Awards Luncheon to order. First time competitors in the “Girl Power” NGC State Petite Design Speciality Flower Show were Debbie Smith and Dixie Thornton. Debbie received honorable mention in the “Serving Others” Reflective Design Class and Dixie received 2nd place in the “Preparing to Entertain” Table Design. WGC members attending the 93rd Annual Convention of the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. were Cathy Smith Warren, Jennifer Fruge Peets, Dixie Hutson Thornton, Jean Ricks, Pam James Owens, Debbie Smith, June Owens and Debbie Hoaglin. WGC took home five first place awards, one second place award, one honorable mention award and received the Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc. Award 6 Bird Award. The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc.Natchez Trace District - Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc.WGCNational Garden Clubs Inc.

By Kara Kimbrough We’re entering the month I call the “happiest month of the year.” May is just plain "happy," filled with joyous occasions like Mother’s Day, high school and college graduations and spring wedding celebrations. On top of personal events are fun tours, pilgrimages and festivals showcasing the best and most beautiful of our state’s offerings. Recommended websites to check out most of the festivities around the state are: visitmississippi.org, gulfcoast.org and natchezpilgrimage.com. When it comes to food for our happiest month, a wealth of happy-sounding dishes increase the endorphins of every attendee at a spring celebration. Just a few examples that inspire happiness and are perfect for spring entertaining including biscuits filled with sliced ham or served solo with a side of butter or jam, muffins of any flavor, ranging from berry-filled to cinnamon to my personal favorite, Peabody Hotel vanilla, berry cobblers, cheeseball (one of at least 100 varieties), flavorful dips, cheese straws and pralines. And that’s not even including the piece de resistance of any happy foods list. I’m referring to cakes that simultaneously sound and taste happy. A few to add to any spring dessert table are Hawaiian sunset, Tres leches, hummingbird and my favorite, strawberry shortcake courtesy of pound cake topped with strawberries and ice cream. When it comes to spring entertaining, it’s important to remember that special events are all about sharing time and food with the people you love. Make up your mind not to stress out over whether your house is big enough or clean enough to host guests or if the food you plan to serve is fancy enough. Melba Darras, who served with her late husband, Tommie, for decades as hostess and chef, respectively, of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion, told me once that guests often expressed how honored they were to be invited to the grand residence. While they complimented Tommie's food, it wasn’t the highlight of their visit. Instead, they were touched by the warm Southern hospitality and being invited to the governor's home. Even if your home isn’t quite as impressive as the Governor’s Mansion, don’t let that stop you for sharing it with others this spring. Your friends and family won’t be judging your home or food, but instead, will feel special that you included them. That warm feeling is the memory that will linger long after the food has been eaten. Here are three recipes served by the Darras’ at the Governor’s Mansion and mentioned in their cookbook, A Taste of History. Melba's notes are in italics. MISSISSIPPI COOKIES We served Mississippi Cookies to everyone, including The Today Show’s Jane Pauley, who received a box full presented by Gov. Allain when the show was filming in Mississippi. 1/2 cup shortening (half butter) 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla and a dash of salt 1- 1/3 cups of flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon milk Combine shortening, butter, sugar, salt, vanilla and eggs. Add sifted dry ingredients. Chill. Roll as thin as possible. Use any cookie cutter you choose. (The customized cookie cutter is available at the Old Capitol Shop or gourmet and culinary shops in the state.) Bake on a sprayed cookie sheet for 7-10 minutes at 350¡. Makes 3-4 dozen. TOMMIE'S GREEK SALAD This salad was often made for meals at the Mansion. Nobody has ever been able to make it like Tommie. Mix salad greens using iceberg, endive and romaine. Add tomato wedges, thin cucumber slices, green pepper slices (no onions). Lightly pour on virgin olive oil and vinegar that has been aged with garlic, (using ratio of 2 to 1). Add salt and pepper. Heap on Kalamata olives, feta cheese, anchovies and pepperoncini. PEACH MELBA Gov. and Mrs. Winter entertained their good friend, Eudora Welty, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Tommie prepared this special dessert for her. Slice Mississippi orchard grown peaches and combine with sugar and 1/8 teaspoon almond extract. Place small thin slice of homemade pound cake in the bottom of a dessert goblet. Sprinkle lightly with Amaretto. Spoon peach mixture interspersed with this raspberry sauce before topping with whipped cream. RASPBERRY SAUCE 2 (10 oz) packages of frozen raspberries 1 teaspoon cornstarch 2 tablespoons lemon juice or Amaretto or whatever you prefer Thaw and press berries through sieve or puree in blender. Strain out the seeds. Put puree in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add cornstarch dissolved in lemon juice. Cook until slightly thickened. Cool and chill. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

After a 5o-year career in public education, State Superintendent of Education Carey Wright, Ed.D., will retire on June 30, 2022. The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) appointed Dr. Wright to be the state’s top pre-K-12 education official in 2013. Her tenure in Mississippi has been longer and marked by more student gains than any state superintendent of education since the Education Reform Act of 1982 established the SBE. Nationally, Dr. Wright is one of the longest-serving state education chiefs of the 21st century. Under Dr. Wright’s leadership, the state initiated successful education reforms that made Mississippi a national leader for improving student achievement. Mississippi’s Quality Counts grade for education improved from an F to a C-, its ranking climbed from 50th to 35th and the graduation rate rose from 75.5% to 88.4% – higher than the national average. Among students with disabilities, the graduation rate more than doubled from 23.2% to 59.9%. Mississippi 4th graders in 2013 were reading more than one full grade level behind the national average on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). By 2019, Mississippi 4th graders scored higher than the nation’s public school average in mathematics, tied the nation in reading and ranked No. 1 in the nation for making the largest score gains. The rapid progress of Mississippi students earned the state Quality Counts’ No. 2 ranking in the nation for improvement in 2019, 2020 and 2021. “Dr. Wright never wavered from her belief that Mississippi students were just as capable as students in any other state,” said Rosemary Aultman, SBE chair. “She eliminated the culture of low expectations and proved our students could achieve at the highest levels. States throughout the country now turn to Mississippi to learn about our successful strategies for raising student achievement. Dr. Wright’s leadership has improved educational opportunities and outcomes for a generation of Mississippi students.” A passionate advocate for early childhood education, Dr. Wright implemented Mississippi’s first publicly funded Early Learning Collaborative program, which earned the state recognition from the National Institute for Early Education Research as one of only six states in the nation that meet all 10 quality standards for early childhood education. The program has grown from 11 collaboratives serving 1,700 children in 2014 to 30 collaboratives that will serve 6,000 children in 2022-23. Dr. Wright spearheaded initiatives that have increased literacy skills in pre-K through the grade 3, pushed student achievement on the NAEP to improve at a faster rate than most other states, and nearly doubled the Advancement Placement participation and success rate. Pre-pandemic, Mississippi students achieved significant annual gains in English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency. Though the pandemic disrupted learning throughout the country, Mississippi’s assessment scores did not fall as much as they did in other states. Dr. Wright’s most recent innovation includes the Mississippi Connects program, which provided every student in the state with a computer device to learn at school or at home. The program includes enhanced internet connectivity, high-quality digital content, professional development for teachers and administrators, digital learning coaches and the launch of telehealth/teletherapy in schools starting in the 2022-23 school year. She also implemented the Mississippi Teacher Residency, which provides scholarships and mentors to aspiring teachers, and the Performance-Based Licensure program, which helps Mississippi teachers with provisional licenses become fully licensed. The next teacher residency cohort will provide graduate degree scholarships for 200 aspiring elementary and special education teachers. Throughout her tenure as Mississippi's state education chief, Dr. Wright has been an active member and leader of numerous national and state boards and organizations that advance the field of education. Notably, the U.S. Secretary of Education appointed her in 2019 to the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policy for NAEP, the Nation’s Report Card. In 2022, Dr. Wright earned the Mississippi Top 50 Most Influential Leaders Award. “Leading education in Mississippi has been the honor and privilege of my life. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity I have been given to work with dedicated educators and leaders across Mississippi, the entire Mississippi Department of Education team and committed State Board members and legislative leaders. Together we have worked to make a difference in the lives of children.” Dr. Wright said. “Most especially, I am incredibly proud of Mississippi students. There is no limit to what they can accomplish.” The SBE will announce plans for Dr. Wright’s transition and its search for a new state superintendent of education once the details have been finalized. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.