4 Corners
A Publication of Lauderdale County School District
Volume II Issue 6
January 2015
LCSD REMAINS STRONG DESPITE CHALLENGES
! When news came earlier this month regarding MDE’s withdrawal from
PARCC, it was not a huge surprise for educators. However, it does leave
us with many questions. Where will we go from here? What assessments will we use next year? How will MDE hold schools, teachers, and
districts accountable with two different assessment measures? Although
we still do not have all of the answers, there are a few things we know
with certainty. First, the bidding for a new test will begin in the coming
weeks. According to MDE board president, Dr. John R. Kelly, “The
new RFP process will give the state the opportunity to seek competitive, multi-year bids.” MDE’s “exit from PARCC will help ensure the process is open and transparent.” Second, we know for certain that MDE is committed to the college and career-ready standards.
Kelly recently indicated this was MDE’s “top priority.” What this means
Randy Hodges, Superintendent
for Lauderdale County Schools is that we stay the course. We continue to provide high quality instruction
daily to meet the needs of all students. We continue to push students to be critical thinkers and problem
solvers. By doing so, we are graduating a more prepared student to meet the demands of college and/or the
workforce.
! As superintendent, one of the highlights of the year is being able to recognize students, teachers, and administrators for outstanding accomplishments. This month we want to recognize Mrs. Cindy Shirley as the
2014-2015 Lauderdale County Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Shirley is a Pre-K Special Education Teacher at
Southeast Elementary. Her love and passion for teaching and her students is evident. We commend her for
her dedication and service. We also recognize Mr. Kevin Cheatham as our 2014-2015 Lauderdale County Administrator of the Year. Mr. Cheatham is principal of West Lauderdale High School. Under his leadership
WLHS has achieved and continues to maintain “A” status. They are ranked 9th in the state for academic
performance. Congratulations to both Mrs Shirley and Mr. Cheatham. They will go on to represent LCSD
is the Mississippi Teacher and Administrator of the year programs.