Mississippi picks education head after Black nominee nixed

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A day after Mississippi’s Republican-led Senate voted in opposition to confirming veteran educator Robert P. Taylor as state superintendent of schooling, the Mississippi State Board of Training named Mike Kent to fill the position on an interim foundation Thursday.

The transfer to kill Taylor’s nomination angered some Black Democrats who mentioned the rejection was not less than partly as a result of Taylor is Black and wrote years in the past in regards to the state’s racist historical past. Kent is white.

Senate Training Committee Chair Dennis DeBar, a white Republican, mentioned he needed to see a superintendent “with a greater resume on enhancing low-performing faculties.”

A information launch printed by the state Board of Training mentioned Kent, who has served as its interim deputy superintendent since 2012, has 40 years of expertise working in public schooling.

“Mike Kent has deep roots and expertise in Mississippi’s public college system on the state and district stage and is revered all through the state for his knowledge and efficient management,” mentioned State Board of Training Chair Rosemary Aultman. “The Board is assured he’ll present continuity in management of the Mississippi Division of Training throughout this transition.”

In an interview with The Related Press on Wednesday night after the Senate vote, Taylor mentioned senators prior to now have confirmed all earlier nominees for state superintendent and that he’s disillusioned this group of senators didn’t affirm him.

“The truth that they didn’t, that’s what I’ve to dwell with,” Taylor mentioned. “I’ll at all times respect the method.”

Kent will serve from April 3 by June 30. The state Board of Training plans on appointing a long-term interim superintendent to start July 1.