MSU celebrates 12 school district teachers earning prestigious National Board Certification

�޾��Դ�ɼ� State celebrates teachers who recently achieved or renewed National Board Certification through the university’s World Class Teaching Program. Pictured front row, from left: Hagen Jones, Demi Bain, Caroline Pochop, Brandye Moore and Lacie Pumphrey; back row, from left: MSU College of Education Dean Teresa Jayroe, Angel Chennault, Heather Rowland, Haley Hedrick, Kyla Evans, Kim Harris and MSU WCTP Director Stephanie McGee. (Photo by Bethany Shipp)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—�޾��Դ�ɼ� State’s World Class Teaching Program is celebrating 12 teachers who have achieved the prestigious National Board Certification and 13 who have renewed the credential.

Representing school districts in �޾��Դ�ɼ� and Alabama, teachers earning or maintaining certification through the university’s WCTP in 2025 recently were honored during a pinning ceremony.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards ranks �޾��Դ�ɼ� State nationwide for number of National Board Certified Teachers, with 1,156 MSU graduates having earned certification. The Magnolia State in the U.S. for total NBCTs certified with 5,115.

“MSU is honored to recognize these educators as they join the ranks of National Board Certified Teachers across the nation,” said WCTP Director Stephanie McGee. “This accomplishment reflects their deep commitment to professional excellence and to the students and communities they serve.”

Established in 1996, the university’s WCTP recruits and provides mentorship for teachers seeking advanced certification through the NBPTS process. Candidates are supported in a variety of ways including component preparation sessions and certificate area support cohort meetings. According to the NBPTS, National Board Certification is the “highest certification a teacher may obtain in addition to being the most respected one.”

�޾��Դ�ɼ� school district teachers certified through the WCTP (by school district) include:

—Booneville: Monica Lamelas Lockward, world languages

—Clinton: Morgan Douell, early childhood generalist

—Kosciusko: Angel Chennault, English: adolescence-young adulthood

—Lee County: Demi Bain, middle childhood generalist

—Monroe County: Lamon Stapleton, career and technical education: adolescence-young adulthood

—Ocean Springs: Stephanie Jalanivich, mathematics: early adolescence

—Pearl: Brandye Moore, middle childhood generalist

—Rankin County: Katie Sweat, music: adolescence-young adulthood

—�޾��Դ�ɼ� Oktibbeha: Kim Harris, exceptional needs specialist; and Kyla Evans, exceptional needs specialist

—Webster County: Hagen Jones, mathematics: early adolescence

Alabama school district teacher certified through the WCTP includes:

—Mobile County: Ambria Reed, literacy: reading/language arts

Teachers who maintained their certification through the WCTP (by school district) include:

—Columbus: Heather Rowland, literacy: reading/language arts; and Shalaan Hendricks, literacy: reading/language arts

—DeSoto County: Dale Beech, music: adolescence-young adulthood

—Gulfport: April Hoyt, literacy: reading/language arts

—Lauderdale County: Dustin Hamrick, mathematics: early adolescence

—Lowndes County: Celeste Gillis, career and technical education: adolescence-young adulthood

—Meridian: Ashley Reed, exceptional needs specialist

—Monroe County: Katie Hughes, middle childhood generalist

—Rankin County: Shellie Reynolds, literacy: reading/language arts

—Union: Haley Hedrick, middle childhood generalist

—Webster County: Joy Day, literacy: reading/language arts

—West Point Consolidated: Caroline Pochop, music: early adolescence; and Lacie Pumphrey, early childhood generalist

MSU’s College of Education is home to five academic departments, a division of education, one research unit and numerous service units. Learn more at .

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