A two-degree USM grad has been appointed State Superintendent of Education. I think this is something for USM to cheer about.



State Tabs New Superintendent
2005-06-26
Commercial Appeal, The



JACKSON - The state Board of Education has hired Pascagoula Schools Superintendent Hank Bounds as Mississippi's superintendent of education.

Bounds, 37, was selected by board members Thursday. The board had interviewed six candidates for the job.

Bounds succeeds Superintendent of Education Henry Johnson, who will leave July 31 to become assistant secretary of education for elementary and secondary schools at the U.S. Department of Education.

Board chairwoman Rosetta Richard said Bounds "has credentials and experience to take Mississippi's accountability system to the next level."

The post pays $234,000. Bounds takes office Aug. 1.

Bounds doesn't believe his youth will work against him.

"The good thing is I have had varied experience," he said.

As state superintendent, "the priority is to accelerate student achievement in this state. And then everything else falls under that umbrella," Bounds said.

A native of Brooklyn in Forrest County, Bounds has bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a doctorate from the University of Mississippi.