The Water Valley School Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Drew Pitcock as interim superintendent for the remainder of the school year. The appointment comes after superintendent Jerry Williams announced that he will retire on Dec. 31. The vote followed discussion in executive session during a meeting held on Dec. 21.
Pitcock came to work in the district as high school principal in 2015 and has helped guide the high school from a D-rating to a B-rating. Pitcock told the Herald that his goal as interim superintendent is to be a servant-leader for the school district, his same approach as principal.
“We have worked hard at the high school, we have a building full of leaders. I also want to build off of Mr. Williams’ approach and mindset, and that is strong support for the teachers. They are in the classrooms every day getting it done,” Pitcock said.
Williams served as superintendent for four-and-a-half years, leading the school district to its first B-rating for the 2021-2022 school year and again for the 2022-2023 school year. The B-rating, meaning a high performing district, is the highest rating the school district has earned since the Mississippi Department of Education changed to the A-F accountability model in 2014.
Pitcock said he plans to spend a lot of time in the classrooms during the upcoming semester supporting teachers and students, especially at Davidson Elementary School (DES).
As reported in the North Mississippi Herald by David Howell, Editor on December 28, 2023.