William Carey University School of Education

06/05/2026

What an incredible week at the Annual Making Connections Conference (MCC) at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum!

With approximately 1,200 educators from across Mississippi in attendance, MCC continues to be one of William Carey University’s most valuable opportunities to connect with educators, showcase our programs, and strengthen relationships across the state.

We are especially proud of our faculty presenters:
⭐ All the World is a Stage – Don’t Be a Boring Teacher! How to Bring Your Lessons to Life presented by Dr. Cassandra Weiss and Kara Simon.
⭐ Neurodiverse Studies: Transformative Research & Interdisciplinary Collaboration presented by Dr. Angela Gill and Dr. Christy Liverett.

A special thank you to our William Carey University volunteers and representatives who helped make our presence at the conference a success: Dr. Fick, Dr. Lowery, Dr. Payne, Dr. Peasant, and Dr. West.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth, attended a session, and shared in meaningful conversations about the future of education. We are proud to continue expanding the William Carey University footprint across Mississippi and supporting educators who are making a difference in the lives of students every day.

06/01/2026

The William Carey University School of Education proudly congratulates Dr. Jeremy Peagler on his appointment as the Assistant Director of Special Services for the Pearl Public School District , effective June 1, 2026. We celebrate this exciting new chapter and look forward to strengthening our partnership with the Pearl Public Schools as we continue working together to prepare and support exceptional educators. Dr. Peagler is a proud graduate of William Carey University’s Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership program. Congratulations, Dr. Peagler, on this well-deserved achievement!

05/22/2026

Central Elementary in the Pascagoula-Gautier School District is currently recruiting teachers for the 2026-2027 academic year. Please refer to the flyer below or visit the website via the following link for additional information.
https://pgsd.applicantpro.com/jobs/

05/21/2026

05/20/2026

Today we celebrate Dr. Overby-Myles. Congratulations!!
Lashunda Overby-Myles successfully defended her thesis. Dr. Liesa Weaver served as the chair of her committee, Dr. Jason Ross served as her statistician, and Dr. Jeff Quin, committee member.

05/20/2026

05/14/2026

“I think I can, I think I can…” 🚂💙

The Excel by 5 Early Childhood Community Coalition meeting was hosted at the William Carey University School of Education with Dr. Pamela West. Special thanks to Mrs. Cierra Boddie and Mrs. Amy Lyon for leading a wonderful and productive meeting focused on supporting young children and families in our community.

Keeping with our “Little Engine That Could” spirit, the meeting began with a fun and interactive activity, “Can You Guess the Children’s Book?”, which brought smiles, laughter, and teamwork to the group. Coalition members also participated in focus group discussions and shared valuable suggestions for updating the Hattiesburg Parent Resource Guide to better serve local families.

April was a busy and exciting month for Excel by 5 members as they helped support and participate in NAEYC Week of the Young Child events including Read Around Town, the Community Baby Shower, Community Partner Breakfast, Live at Five, and YMCA Healthy Kids Day.

Like the little engine, our coalition continues to move forward with determination, collaboration, and a shared belief that together we can make a difference for children and families in our community. 🚂✨

05/13/2026

We are proud to recognize an outstanding example of educational excellence and community partnership. We received a Mississippi Teacher Residency grant from the Department of Education to support teachers earn elementary and/or a mild moderate endorsement. We are honored to partner with the Moss Point School District to support teachers and mentors who were selected to participate this year.

We are grateful for the Moss Point Rotary Club for stepping in to partner with us and the Moss Point School District by providing a supplement to support the grant recipients .
The Moss Point Rotary Club, whose mission includes supporting education in their community, stepped forward and we are proud to collaborate with them in our work to ensure every classroom has an effective teacher.

This funding, provided through William Carey University with support from the Rotary Club of Moss Point, represents a meaningful investment in our teachers and students and reflects the strength of our community working together to support educational excellence.

This partnership was recognized at the Moss Point School District May Board meeting.

Pictured below:

Dr. Teresa Poole, Dean of the School of Education

Dr. Mary Rodgers, WCU Grant Coordinator; Assistant Professor

Mrs. Misti Stelljes, Rotarian and MP Aquculture Teacher

Dr. Christopher Williams, Superintendent of Moss Point Schools

Kimberly Osby, recipient and Sharon Thompson, mentor from Escatawpa Elementary School.

Rebecca Brady, recipient and Dr. Elaine Cannon, mentor from Kreole Elementary School.

This partnership between Moss Point Schools, William Carey University, and the Rotary Club of Moss Point is a powerful reminder that when a community supports its educators, everyone benefits.

05/11/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Courtney Reynolds on earning a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. We extend our best wishes for her continued success.

05/11/2026

Congratulations to Mrs. Kassaundra Hester on earning her Master of Education in the Art of Teaching with an emphasis in Secondary Education . We wish her continued success in her teaching career.