Laurel School District teachers Rachel L. Virgess and Rebecca Hooper have been chosen among 100 statewide educators to serve on the Mississippi Teacher Advisory Council by the Mississippi Department of Education.
Virgess teaches at Laurel Middle School, while Hooper goes to Laurel High School.
The MTAC, formed in 2016, now has more than 300 educators representing schools in urban and rural settings and an array of content areas, including general education, arts, special education, and career and technical education.
The Advisory Council is designed to provide feedback to Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, on the initiatives of the MDE, the Mississippi State Board of Education and the Mississippi State Legislature. Wright meets with teachers regularly.
The MTAC aims to empower teachers to discuss topics critical to their success in the classroom and how MDE can assist.
“Over the last four years, I have greatly valued the feedback from teachers across this state through our meetings,” she said. “The MDE has provided professional development opportunities, resources, and changes in policy based in part on conversations I’ve had with members of the MTAC.
“I look forward to hearing from our new members as we work collaboratively on behalf of students,” Wright said.