Brantley named state’s ‘Superintendent of the Year’
Neshoba County School District Superintendent Lundy Brantley has been named Mississippi’s Superintendent of the Year.
Brantley received the award last week during the Mississippi Association of School Administrators annual meeting and leadership conference at The Refuge Hotel and Conference Center in Flowood.
Brantley said the honor was a “Neshoba Central team” award and that he was very excited and humbled.
“I’m receiving it, but it’s really the whole district’s award,” Brantley said. “It recognizes the achievements of all our people here and it says a lot about our district, what we are doing here, and what we are trying to do.”
After his nomination, Brantley had to complete a long application process which included a video showing his and his school district’s long list of accomplishments.
In his application for the award, he included a statement which said the Neshoba County School District “lives out our mission in day-to-day practice by developing every student intellectually, emotionally, and physically in a safe environment. The district’s vision is that all students graduate college and are career ready with courses, certifications and external opportunities beyond a high school diploma.”
Brantley will go on to compete on the national level and be recognized during the National Conference on Education later this year in San Antonio. He is currently serving his sixth year as Neshoba County Schools Superintendent.
MASA Executive Director Dr. Ronnie McGehee, said he was excited over Brantley’s service and leadership in Neshoba County and his willingness to share his practice experiences when leading Neshoba County Schools.
“Dr. Brantley serves on several committees across our state and he gains a National View of Educational leadership as a member of our National Affiliate, the American Association of School Administrators,” McGehee said, “We congratulate Dr. Brantley as well as his staff and communities he leads in Neshoba County.”
Under Brantley’s leadership, the Neshoba County School District earned an “A” accountability grade for the 2021-2022 school year. Neshoba Elementary and Middle schools were individually rated an “A” while the high school received a high “B” grade. Neshoba Middle School was ranked sixth in the state along with the high school being in the top 20 in acceleration.
Choctaw County School District Superintendent Glen Beard nominated Brantley for the award and described him as a “high energy, go-getter type of person” in everything he does.
“He has an infectious personality that makes everyone around him better,” Beard said. “He attacks every day with zeal and tenacity. This mindset has been transferred throughout the school district and he has made the Neshoba County School District one of the top in the state.”
Brantley’s term as the president of MASA concluded at the end of the conference. He moved to the past president position and is also Mississippi’s representative on the national governing board.
Before being appointed as Neshoba County Superintendent of Education in July 2017, he was superintendent of the Union Public School District, high school principal at Pearl Public School District, high school and junior high principal at Wester County School District, and elementary principal at Neshoba County School district.
Brantley has an associate’s degree from East Central Community College, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a master’s, specialist and doctorate from Mississippi State University.