Quitman County schools seek experienced superintendent with rural district ties

Quitman County’s school board is looking for a superintendent who can do more than manage paperwork. It wants an experienced, visionary, student-focused leader who understands rural Mississippi schools and can help steady a district serving 835 students in Marks.

The vacancy notice sets a high bar. Applicants must meet Mississippi Code Section 37-9-13, hold a valid Mississippi educator license with the right endorsements, and bring successful leadership experience at the building or district level. The board also says it wants someone ethical, data-driven, community-minded and committed to continuous improvement. Preference goes to candidates with a track record of raising student achievement, working within the Mississippi Accountability System, and leading in rural or high-poverty districts. The superintendent will need to understand school finance, career and technical education, federal funding, and how to recruit and develop strong personnel.

The timing gives the search real stakes. Applications are open until the position is filled, with a start date on or before July 1, 2026. That means the decision will shape hiring, budgeting and planning for the next school year in a county district where leadership carries outsized weight. The district says its goals are to increase and sustain academic achievement, maintain sound finances, enhance parental involvement and community engagement, and increase teacher retention and recruitment. Walter L. Atkins, Jr. is listed as the current superintendent.

Those priorities meet a district that is small, rural and under pressure to improve results. The National Center for Education Statistics classifies Quitman County School District as a regular local district in a rural, remote locale in Marks. It serves four schools, including Quitman County Elementary, Quitman County Middle School and Madison Palmer High School, with a districtwide student-to-teacher ratio of 19.42 and 43 classroom teachers. The district’s 2024 Mississippi Succeeds Report Card shows an 85.4% graduation rate comparison and 38.2% college and career readiness comparison, figures that help explain why the board is emphasizing accountability experience and academic gains.

The broader county picture adds urgency. Quitman County’s population fell from 6,176 in the 2020 Census to 5,542 in July 2024 and 5,364 in July 2025, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The county is 73.1% Black and 24.4% White. In a place this small, the superintendent’s role reaches past classrooms and into bus routes, staffing, school safety and whether families trust the district to deliver. The five-member board, including president Loria Barfield, will help steer that choice, while the district asks applicants to submit a letter of interest, résumé, Mississippi license copy and three professional references.