Biographies of 2025 Speakers and Presenters

 

2025 MASSP / MAESA / MSASPA Summer Conference,
Biographies of the Speakers and Presenters. 
(Updated 4-25-25)

 

Scott Benson is the Assistant Principal at Quitman Upper Elementary, bringing 16 years of experience in education. Before stepping into administration, he taught middle school science and served as an instructional coach at the elementary level. His leadership has been instrumental in guiding Quitman Upper Elementary to a B rating, reflecting his commitment to academic excellence. Known for his data-driven approach, Scott focuses on student achievement and teacher success, ensuring that every decision supports growth and progress. His passion for education and strategic mindset make him a dynamic leader in the field.

CC Bradberry, M.Ed., English Education, serves Bailey Education Group as English Language Arts Content Manager, ACT Content Manager, and Project Manager. In her eighth year with Bailey, CC serves as a K-12 Reading and ACT Coach for schools across the Southeast. An English teacher at heart, CC loves supporting rigorous instruction to drive student outcomes and impact learning. She lives in Madison with her husband, twin boys, and daughter.

Dr. Lundy Brantley is a 25 year veteran of public education in MS, having retired in June 2023 and beginning his career with Performance shortly thereafter, where he now serves as an academic coach and administrative mentor.  Dr. Brantley served as superintendent of the A-rated Neshoba County School District for the last six years of his career, and prior to serving in Neshoba also served as the superintendent in the Union Public School District. 

Ms. Laurie Brewer is a National Board-Certified Educator with over 29 years of experience as a MS teacher and Instructional Coach. Ms. Brewer specializes in 1:1 instruction, team collaboration and relations with students, parents, and support staff. She is skilled in differentiated instruction, conducting professional learning communities, and instructional planning skills. Laurie holds a B.A.   in Elementary Education, from Delta State University.

Dr. Aimee Brown has 26 years of experience in education and currently serves as Principal for Leake Central Elementary School. She has also served in leadership positions in Newton Municipal Schools, Madison County School, Hinds County Schools, and the Mississippi Department of Education. Dr. Brown received her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Mississippi State University and has completed leadership certifications through the National Institute for School Leaders (NISL), AASA – The Superintendents Association, and the National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC). She was recognized as Administrator of the Year for Madison County Schools in 2009.

Brent Brownlee, M.Ed. is a dedicated and compassionate leader with 14 years of experience as an educator. Currently serving as an Assistant Principal at Germantown High School (MS). Brent began his career as a classroom teacher at Germantown High School, where he was awarded Star Teacher in his second year of teaching. As an administrator over the Academy of Healthcare Excellence at Germantown High School, Brent helped the academy achieve Model Distinction through the National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC), the first in Mississippi to do so. Brent has also served as a presenter at the NCAC National Conference and participated in an NCAC case study. Brent earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology at Mississippi State University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Arkansas State University.

Dr. Heather Bryan is a dedicated and passionate educator whose commitment to student success and academic excellence has defined her 16-year career in the Rankin County School District. She is a proud graduate of the University of Mississippi where she completed her undergraduate studies, Principal Corps, and doctorate. Dr. Bryan currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Richland High School, she brings a wealth of experience from diverse roles, including district curriculum specialist, AP coordinator, and classroom teacher. Dr. Bryan collaborates closely with teachers, students, and parents to cultivate a positive and supportive learning environment. Her unwavering commitment ensures that every student is empowered to reach their full potential while providing teachers with the resources and encouragement they need to succeed. 

Mina Ross Bryan-Lightsey, Ph.D.  In addition to being a former teacher, principal, curriculum coordinator, central office administrator, and superintendent in Mississippi schools, Dr. Bryan-Lightsey is one of the current Co-Owners of The Excellence Group, LLC. She has been serving as a mentor, coach, and professional development provider in the areas of English Language Arts, curriculum, and leadership for over fifteen years in addition to her time spent as a successful leader in MS schools.  Dr. Bryan Lightsey holds a B.A. and M.Ed. in Elementary Education from the University of Mississippi as well a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision.

Dr. Dana Bullard is serving in her third year as Principal of Oxford High School. Bullard has a decade of administrative experience in Oxford High, Corinth High, Aberdeen High, and the Mississippi Department of Education. At each school, she has led strategic and impactful improvement efforts and championed great gains in accountability and culture. She holds an Ed.D. from Vanderbilt University. Before her administrative experience, Bullard was a high school and college English teacher and long-time soccer coach.

Syl Burrell, Ed.D. is the 2020 Mississippi Assistant Principal of the Year. She is an assistant principal at Germantown High School. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Mississippi State University, a M.S. in Educational Leadership from Mississippi College, an Ed.S. degree in Instructional Leadership and earned her Ed.D. from William Carey University. Dr. Burrell has presented at the National Career Academy Coalition Conference and Mississippi Association of Secondary School Principals. In her community, she serves as an executive leadership team member for the Salvation Army and volunteers with the Diabetic Foundation of Mississippi. Dr. Burrell, her husband James and their two children, Reed and Reagan, reserve fall weekends for Mississippi State tailgating and New Orleans Saints football

Scott Cantrell is a retired educator with 28 years experience in MS public schools serving as a coach, teacher, and administrator for the majority of his tenure, but also serving as superintendent of the Monroe County School District for the final 11.5 years of his career.  Upon retiring in 2019, he began his second career as a data and accountability model coach for Performance and now serves as President of the company. 

Crystal Chase, has been employed with Madison County Schools her entire twenty-two years in education. She spent nineteen years at Old Town Middle School in Ridgeland serving as an 8^th grade English teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Making her way to Ridgeland High School as principal helped her to better understand the importance of a strong educational foundation for all students and the need for consistent collaboration between educators. Mrs. Chase received her Bachelor of Arts in English Education from The University of Southern Mississippi and her Masters in ED Leadership from Mississippi College. In 2024, she was recognized as Mississippi College's Outstanding Alumni Administrator. She was named Madison County Schools 2019 District Administrator of the Year and MASSP Middle School Principal of the Year in 2018. Mrs. Chase wholeheartedly believes that students will do exactly what you empower them to do.

Dr. Nicole Cockrell is the Mannsdale Upper Elementary School (MUES) principal. She served as the Assistant Principal and Literacy Specialist before becoming the principal of MUES. Her experience includes being a teacher and interventionist in Greenwood and Jackson Public Schools before working in the Madison County Schools. Dr. Cockrell was the 2023 National Assistant Principal of the Year for Mississippi.

Mary Martha Crowe is in her first year as Assistant CTE Director at OHS and previously served as an Assistant Principal for Della Davidson Elementary School in Oxford. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Mississippi and is a graduate of Ole Miss’ Principal Corps program. Before administration, Crowe was a 20-year veteran teacher. She also serves her community as an Alderman-at-Large, bridging the gap between the school district and the local municipality.

Dr. Thomas Dudley III is an Assistant Principal at Richland High School with 20 years of experience in education, serving in both teaching and administrative roles. Over the past 13 years at Richland, he has led with a focus on instructional growth, student success, and team development. He also served for three years as a curriculum specialist and district test coordinator, supporting district-wide curriculum and assessment initiatives. Dr. Dudley is the 2022 MECA Administrator of the Year and a two-time MECA conference presenter. He is widely recognized across his district for his leadership in technology integration and instructional innovation. In addition to his administrative experience, he has received extensive literacy training and has supported teachers in strengthening literacy practices across content areas. He has contributed to several state-level education efforts, including the Mississippi Department of Education’s College and Career Readiness Task Force, the Mississippi Principal Evaluation System Advisory Board, and the Biology SATP2 Test Item Review and Score Setting Committee. His doctoral research focused on the impact of one-to-one laptop initiatives on student achievement, giving him both theoretical and practical insight into the evolving role of technology in the classroom.

Lucas Ferguson has served as Assistant Principal at Oxford High School for three years. New to his role in 2022, student vaping and substance abuse have been on the forefront of improvement efforts from day one.  Ferguson has served as an Assistant Principal at Oxford High and Middle School. Before serving in this capacity, he was a National Board Certified English teacher with the Oxford School District. Ferguson is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Mississippi with hopes of defending his dissertation on the impact of Continuous Improvement Cycles on Organizational Resilience in K-12 educational institutions in early Fall of 2025.

Karyn Fortenberry has served as an Assistant Principal at Oxford High School for two years. Before becoming an administrator, Fortenberry was an algebra teacher at OHS for 26 years. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, and currently serves as the Testing Coordinator for OHS

Ms. Chaffie Gibbs has over 30 years’ experience as a special education teacher, school psychometrist, behavior specialist, and special education director. She also holds MS certification in School and Guidance Counseling. Her degrees include a BS and ME in Special Education from Mississippi State University and a ME in Educational Leadership from William Carey University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate as her desire to learn and improve her skill as an educator continues to grow.

Shannon Green (Ed.D.- Education) is an educator with 11 years of experience in Madison County Schools as a 1st-grade teacher, an 8th-grade ELA teacher, and currently an assistant principal. Shannon holds a B.A. and M.Ed. from the University of Mississippi, along with a Specialist and Doctorate from William Carey University. A firm believer in servant leadership, she is dedicated to helping others achieve greatness. She enjoys creating memories with family, spending time with friends, and traveling the world.

Taylor Hildebrand (M.Ed.– Educational Leadership) has served as an assistant principal for three years and as a teacher for seventeen years. He was awarded Star teacher at the elementary level in 2006 and was selected as Teacher of the Year at Germantown High School in 2021. In his three years of administrative service, Mr. Hildebrand finds joy in servant leadership and building meaningful professional relationships with teachers and students. He lives in Madison, MS, with his wife and 3 children.

Montgomery Hinton currently runs Preparing for Success, LLC, the premier ACT tutoring program in Mississippi, which boasts multiple STAR students each year as well as having personally tutored multiple students who yearly make 36s on the test, both in specific sub-scores and overall scores.  He is an ACT Certified educator in English, math, reading, and science, holds a Platinum certificate on the ACT Workkeys, has earned ACT badges in Integrity, Resilience, Creativity, Work Ethic, Leadership, and collaboration, and has led upwards of 6,000 ACT, SAT, PSAT, ASVAB, and ACT Workkeys in-person boot camps as to date along with tutoring thousands more.

Jessica Hodges, a 23-year educator, is the Secondary Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development for the Rankin County School District. During her tenure in education, she has been a high school History teacher and coach, a K-12 Instructional Specialist, an assistant principal at both the high school and middle school levels, and a principal at the middle school level. She has been awarded the MASSP Middle School Principal of the Year award in 2016 and 2020. She was also awarded the MASSP Assistant Principal of the Year in 2024. Mrs. Hodges was also a NASSP board member from 2017-2020.
Her team in the Secondary Curriculum Department includes Lorie Yates (Science), Lacey Hedgepeth (ELA), Kalea White (ELA), Rhonda Kilgo (Data Specialist), Karin Bowen (Math), Jasmine Rosemon (Math), Catherine Beasley (Social Studies), Julia Everett (SPED), Stephanie Cotnam (Technology), and Erin Barrios (Technology).

Tiffany Hunt brings a wealth of experience spanning from middle school to college classrooms both within the United States and internationally. Among her strengths as a classroom teacher is her skill adapting curriculum to meet the needs of her diverse student population. She teaches mathematics through the lenses of inclusion, access, and student empowerment. She has spent the past few years working with teachers in a variety of school settings to engage students, support math interventions, and improve students' college readiness skills to ensure their success post-high school. Recently, Tiffany has transitioned to roles focusing on empowering educators.  Tiffany has served as a coach for teachers and co-teaches alongside educators of all disciplines to enhance the learning experience for all students. Among her roles and accomplishments, Tiffany served as a regional coordinator for the Nebraska Math Readiness Project (NMRP), the char for the 2023 Nebraska Developmental Educational Consortium Annual Conference, and a presenter at the 2023 National American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges Conference on the topic of Being College Ready in Math: It’s About Addressing the Learning Gaps.

Tajuan Johnson currently serves as the ASVAB Program Manager for Mississippi. Prior to working with the ASVAB Career Exploration Program, Mr. Johnson was employed as an educator in public school system of Mississippi for several years. He received his Education Specialist in Educational Leadership from Belhaven University in 2018. During his time as an educator, he worked as a teacher, Assistant Principal, and CTE Director. Mr. Johnson is also a retired Veteran who proudly served in the United States ARMY.

Doug Jones (Ed.D.- Education) has served as the principal at Madison Middle School for the past three years. Prior to the lead role, he was an assistant for six years. Doug’s educational career has spanned 20 years serving as a teacher, coach, and administrator. Doug loves school and the educational process. He lives in Madison with his wife and two boys

Mrs. Holly Jones is the assistant principal of Mannsdale Upper Elementary School (MUES). She served as the Literacy Specialist at one of Madison County’s elementary schools and has taught in Madison and Rankin County School Districts. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) who assists teachers with completing the process of becoming NBCT.

Dr. Cody Killen is currently the head principal at West Lauderdale Middle School.  Cody has served at all levels in K-12 education, spearheading transformative initiatives at in each.  Cody’s dedication to education extends to serving as an adjunct faculty member at MSU, while serving as a board member for MASSP, MPE and Learning Forward. With degrees from MSU, UWA and William Carey, Dr. Killen is committed to shaping education statewide.

Dr. Jan Lemon received her doctoral degree in counselor education from Mississippi State University and currently serves as an Associate Professor at Mississippi College.  She presently serves as the coordinator of School Counseling and has supervised many students in their journey toward becoming a Professional School Counselor. Her research interests have been in the areas of wellness and spirituality, and she has studied the effects these factors have on emotional and physical health. In addition, she has a Crisis Counseling Certification from the University of Alabama with special training in Trauma Informed Schools. This presenter is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in the state of Mississippi and has presented at many state and national conferences on counseling supervision and ethics, which included the roles and best practices of these pedological aspects of the counseling profession

Nason Lollar, Ed.D. Principal, Madison Career & Technical Center. Fourteen years’ experience as a classroom teacher and coach and has served eleven years as a high school administrator. 2023 MASSP Assistant Principal of the Year. Author, The Five Principles of Educator Professionalism: Rebuilding Trust in Schools.

Jennifer Lovitt (M. Ed. – Education) has served in various capacities over 30 years as a classroom teacher, media specialist, and administrator. She is national board certified, and has taught in Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky and Mississippi. She is a graduate of the National Institute for School Leadership as well as the Millsaps Principals' Institute. Mrs. Lovitt was also published in a national educational journal, Technology Horizons in Education, with an article on technology funding in the K-12 setting.

Carie Lyall serves as an assistant principal and STC at Old Town Middle School. She began her college education at Mississippi College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Master of Education. While at Mississippi College, she was recognized as the Education Honor Student of the Year. She later earned her Specialist in Educational Leadership from William Carey University.
Carie begins her 16th year in public education this fall. She has previously taught in both Rankin County and Madison County, served as an Assessment and Curriculum Specialist for grades 3-8 across the state, and worked as an Instructional Specialist and State Testing Coordinator for Highland Elementary in Madison County. She was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year in Rankin County in 2009 and Madison Station Teacher of the Year in 2016. Mrs. Lyall served as an original Super Group member with MOE in the development of the MAAP assessment.  Carie currently resides in Madison County. She is the proud mother of three sons who are vibrant, successful products of Madison County Schools.

Rod Martin taught for 25 years in public school classrooms in Mississippi. After retiring in 2022, Rod joined Jumpstart Test Prep, where he is now Vice President of Curriculum. Rod’s primary goal is to help students and teachers get THE MOST IMPROVEMENT IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF REVIEW TIME™!

Dr. Mary Moak will begin her 32nd year in education this fall.  Holding degrees from Mississippi College (Bachelor of Music Education in Vocal Music Education) and the University of Mississippi (Masters and Doctorate in Educational Leadership), Mary has served as a teacher of students in grades Pre-K through 12th, as an assistant principal, and is beginning her tenth year as the Elementary Coordinator for the Office of Assessment and Accountability for Madison County Schools.

Dr. Greg Paczak has served for the past decade as the Director of Assessment & Accountability for Madison County Schools.  A 29-year educator, Dr. Paczak earned degrees from Mississippi College (Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master’s in Education for School Counseling) and the University of Mississippi (Specialist and Doctorate in Educational Leadership).  He is a graduate/participant of the following professional development opportunities: NISL Executive Development Program, Millsaps Principals Summer Institute, AASA/MASA Aspiring and Early Career Superintendents Academy, Harvard Strategic Data Project Fellow Supervisor and the 2025-26 PREPS CEO Leadership Academy.  Greg is a current MDE Accountability Task Force member.        

Wesley Quick, Ed.D. has dedicated over two decades to education, with a career marked by leadership and service in various capacities. With 6 years as a high school science teacher, followed by 6 years as an assistant principal. It was during this time that he was able to assist in opening a new high school. He then took on the role of high school principal for 9 years. Dr. Quick’s current position is Director of High Schools and Safety/Security. Dr. Quick earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Mississippi College. He furthered his expertise with a Specialist in Instructional Leadership and Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from William Carey University. Wesley has been married to his wife Lindsay for 21 years and they have 2 children, Brayden & Baleigh

Mrs. Jessica Rives is a fourth-grade language arts teacher at Mannsdale Upper Elementary (MUES). She taught many different grades before becoming the department chair for her fourth-grade language team. In 2023, Mrs. Rives and the writing committee took on the challenge of revamping how we teach writing. She developed a graphic organizer that MUES utilizes across all three grades

Brett Robinson serves as the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director for the State of Mississippi. Before joining the MS Department of Education, he served twenty-years in the Clinton Public School District as a science teacher and football coach, the Clinton Schools CTE Director, and lead principal of Clinton High School. Brett was selected as the Clinton High School Teacher of the Year in 2009, Clinton Schools Administrator of the Year in 2016, and he was named Principal of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Secondary School Principals in 2022. Over the past decade, Brett has served on numerous state level committees and taskforce including the State CTE Director’s Advisory Committee, State Superintendent’s Principal Advisory Committee, College and Career Readiness Taskforce, Innovative Schools Taskforce, and MDE’s Commission on School Accreditation. He began his role as State CTE Director on June 1, 2023. Brett earned a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education from Mississippi State University as well as a master’s and specialist in educational leadership from Mississippi.

Levi Robinson is currently serving as Lead principal at Old Town Middle School in Madison County. He has been in education for 30 years. 11 years as a teacher and coach at Callaway High School. He served as an Assistant Principal in the Natchez-Adams School District, Columbus Municipal School District, Madison County School District and lead Principal at Jefferson Middle in the Columbia School district for a combined total of 19 years. He is a two-time principal of the year, and he has improved the school rating at both Jefferson Middle and Old Town Middle. He received his B. S. degree from Alcorn State University, his master's degree from Jackson State University, and a Specialist from William Carey University. He is passionate about student success. He has two children, Tilon and Kayla Robinson and a beautiful 5-year-old granddaughter, Kamari.

Michele Rudd-Toles  has served as Assistant Principal at Oxford High School for three years. New to her role in 2022, student vaping and substance abuse have been on the forefront of improvement efforts from day one. Before serving as Assistant Principal at OHS, Rudd-Toles served as the Director of Attendance and Discipline and Behavioral Interventionist at the school. Before entering into administration, Rudd-Toles was a 20-year veteran science teacher for Oxford and South Panola School Districts. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi.

Kristen Schrimpshire is an experienced educator and dedicated school leader with a passion for lifelong learning and student success. As the Principal of Quitman Upper Elementary, she has led her school to significant academic growth, elevating it from a "D" to a "B" rating. With 19 years in education, Kristen has served as a teacher, instructional leader, and advocate for student achievement. She has contributed to state-level education initiatives, including standards revision and test development, and has provided professional development at school and district levels. Named Quitman Schools District’s Administrator of the Year in both 2022-2023 and 2024-2025 school years, Kristen is committed to fostering excellence in education. She inspires her students and staff to “Win the Day” each day as they work toward their goals.

Ashley Shannon is currently serving as an Assistant Principal at Oxford High School where she oversees special education programs. Before her role at OHS, Shannon served as Principal of North Panola Middle School for 5 years, an Assistant Principal at North Panola High for 4 years, and a teacher and cross country/track coach at Byhalia High School for 8 years. She holds a Master’s degree in Instructional Leadership from Union University.

Dr. Marcus Stewart is the Principal of Richland High School in the Rankin County School District, bringing 18 years of dedicated experience in education, primarily within the Mississippi Delta. His impactful leadership journey has taken him from teaching in struggling districts to transforming schools in more progressive areas. A proud graduate of HBCUs, he attended Mississippi Valley State University and Jackson State University. He also completed the Principal Corps program and earned his doctorate at The University of Mississippi. Dr. Stewart has been recognized as an Outstanding Administrator by the Mississippi Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and was named Rankin County Assistant Administrator of the Year. He is deeply committed to creating inclusive and dynamic learning environments that celebrate diversity, hard work, and positive relationships. Under his visionary guidance, Richland High School has achieved its highest school accountability rating, nurturing a thriving school culture.

Jayme Moore Sullivan is a licensed Professional Counselor, National Board -Certified Counselor, and National Certified School Counselor.   Jayme began her service in education as a teacher in 1980 then transitioned to counseling in 1983.  She has guided students in both the private and public sector and retired from Madison County Schools in June 2024. The recipient of numerous commendations some of her greatest accomplishments as a counselor have been the initiation of the original legislation in Mississippi to define the role of a school counselor including the requirement of a minimum of a Master's Degree in Counseling, assisted in the initiation of legislation that led to the passage of a $6,000 supplement for counselors that are National Board School Certified in Mississippi, worked with the government relations committee and contacts at the Mississippi Medicaid office to have Licensed Professional Counselors in Mississippi to serve as providers for Medicaid to children under 18, and worked with the government relations committee of the Mississippi Counseling Association to be the fourth state to sign the Counseling Compact into law. She now serves as the Executive Director of Mississippi Counseling Association.

Dr. Furlinda Travis is a seasoned educator with 29 years of experience. She collaborates with teachers nationwide to boost student leadership, improve classroom management, and enhance students’ decision-making skills, all while helping educators maximize instructional time.

Dr. Paula Vanderford is Chief Accountability Officer of Mississippi Department of Education.

Drew Wardlaw (M.Ed. Leadership) has 18 years in education as a teacher, coach, and an administrator for the past seven years. A graduate of the Millsaps Principal Institute, he also serves as a facilitator for the Mississippi College Principal Institute. Passionate about building relationships, he thrives on seeing students and teachers excel. Mr. Wardlaw and his wife live in Madison, MS, with their two daughters.

Joshua L. Yeager, a transformational leader in education, Yeager, principal of Perry Central High School has led a remarkable turnaround at a once-struggling institution. Under his leadership accountability scores have increased by over100 points, graduation rates have surged by 18% and the school has earned High-performing status. Principal Yeager has an upcoming book “From Rags to Riches”. He is rewriting the narrative for Rural Schools, provides insightful strategies on transforming struggling schools into thriving learning environments.  "Be part of the Movement…..Toward Excellence in education in Mississippi!"