Pearl River principal tapped to lead Itawamba school district
TUPELO - Itawamba County has tapped a Pearl River County educator to lead its school district.
Austin Alexander, who currently serves as principal of Pearl River Central High School in the Pearl River County School District, has been named the new superintendent of education of the Itawamba County School District (ICSD), the Mississippi School Boards Association (MSBA) announced Monday.
Alexander will assume his leadership position as superintendent of the Itawamba County School District on July 1, 2024. He replaces longtime Itawamba County educator and superintendent of education Trae Wiygul, who announced in February that he would be retiring at the end of the school year.
Alexander's appointment follows a four-week search conducted by the MSBA. He was selected from among 11 applicants, three of whom were interviewed by the board.
“The school board unanimously approved Austin as the next leader of our school district," ICSD Board President Teresa McNeece said in a release. "His passion, energy, and knowledge were all evident of the type of individual we sought to lead the district. We feel our most important asset, our children, will greatly benefit from his leadership. Austin is a perfect fit for what we were seeking, and we are excited to welcome him and his family to our community.”
Alexander’s background of experiences includes serving as a principal at both the
middle and high school levels. He began his education career in 2006 as a
teacher and coach at Poplarville Middle School. As assistant principal and athletic
director at Forrest County Agricultural High School, he created a PBIS program which
reduced discipline referrals by 60% and also wrote a Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthy
Schools Grant which created training and rehabilitation facilities for staff and students.
In his five years as principal of Pearl River Central Middle Schools, Alexander implemented a modified schedule which allowed the hiring of three new interventionists in the areas of math and English while staying within the school’s current budget. He also created an advisory system to serve students in sixth through eighth grades. He was selected as the Pearl River County School District Administrator of the Year in 2019.
Alexander is a 2022-2023 Mississippi Educational Policy Fellow and is a graduate of
MSBA’s Prospective Superintendent Leadership Academy, the Mississippi Leadership
Academy, and the Millsaps Principals Institute.
He received his B.S. degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and his M.Ed.
degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at
Arlington.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the students, staff, parents, and
communities of Itawamba County," Alexander said in a release. "Itawamba County School District has consistently demonstrated excellence and has established itself as one of Mississippi’s leading school districts. In collaboration with our administration, directors, teachers, and support staff, I am committed to further enhancing our district’s
achievements and expanding opportunities for all of our students. My family shares in
my excitement for this new chapter, and we look forward to forming lasting relationships within the community.”
