Mississippi Public Schools
ABOUT
Program of Research and Evaluation for Public Schools
Headquartered at William Carey University
Welcome to Mississippi’s only statewide educational consortium. PREPS was organized over 40 years ago in 1976 as a non-profit organization dedicated to serving Mississippi Public Schools. PREPS is governed by a board of directors made up of current Mississippi school district superintendents representing the congressional districts.
Current Board Members:
Dr. Amy Carter, PREPS President - Meridian Public Schools Superintendent
Dr. Tyler Hansford, PREPS Secretary - Union City School District Superintendent
Dr. Sam Allison, Lowndes County Schools Superintendent
Dr. Adrian Hammitte, Jefferson County School District Superintendent
Dr. Matthew L. Dillon, Petal School District Superintendent
Mrs. Alee' Dixon, Tate County School District Superintendent
Dr. Carla Evers, Pass Christian School District Superintendent
Mr. Jesse King, Leland Public School District Superintendent
Mr. Corey Uselton, Desoto County School District Superintendent
Dr. Eddie Peasant, William Carey University Assistant Dean of School of Education
Dr. Benigno is a Professor of Educational Leadership at William Carey University and served as Superintendent of the Laurel School District from 2010 to 2017. A respected educator and leader, he has been recognized in Who’s Who Among American Teachers, named Coach of the Year, and received Mississippi’s Superintendent of the Year Award in 2014. Dr. Benigno is the author of Teaching: Excellence or Survival? and is a sought-after motivational keynote speaker for schools, organizations, and corporations throughout the Southeast, inspiring audiences with his expertise in leadership, education, organizational improvement, professional development, and building high-performing teams.
Dr. Permenter is a Professor of Education at WCU's Tradition Campus and Co-Director of the MS Rural Education Association and the MS Hub for the Rural Schools Collaborative. A dedicated advocate for educator development and rural education, she provides professional learning for educators and has served as an empowerment coach, partnering with school district leadership teams to support school improvement. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the MAX Museum in Meridian. During her K–12 career, Dr. Permenter earned multiple Teacher of the Year honors and received the Circle of Excellence Award from the MSU School of Education.
Mrs. Ingram joined PREPS after a distinguished 33-year career with Jones Junior College Financial Aid, where she demonstrated consistent dedication, professionalism, and a strong commitment to student support. Since joining PREPS, she has continued to apply her experience in service to member institutions, strengthening relationships and supporting organizational initiatives. She enjoys traveling and values opportunities to work with and connect with PREPS membership across Mississippi.