April 16, 2012 - Tdap Vaccination Now Required for All Students Entering 7th Grade

Mississippi will join 41 other states in requiring a recent Tdap vaccination for all students entering the 7th grade, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.

All required childhood immunizations for children six months to 18 years of age will be provided free of charge at any county health department during the week of April 23-27 in recognition of National Immunization Week. This included the newly-required Tdap vaccination for entering 7th-graders.

Click here for more information.

March 26, 2012 - Ben McClung Named Superintendent of Education

On Friday, March 23, 2012, The School Board of Tishomingo County School District School unanimously selected Mr. Ben McClung as the next Superintendent of Education for Tishomingo County School District. Mr. McClung was reared in the Paden Community as a youth and attended Tishomingo High School. Board President Michael Puckett commented, "The Board was very impressed with Mr. McClung's experience and his vision for our school district. We are excited about the future and are convinced that he will be able to lead our district to continued excellence."

Mr. McClung received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of North Alabama in 1978, a degree in Reading from the University of Mississippi in 1981, and a Master of Arts Degree in Education Administration from the University of North Alabama in 1985.

His career in education began at Tishomingo High School in 1978 in which he served as a teacher, school bus driver, and coach. From 1982 to 1991, he served as a teacher, coach, school bus driver, assistant high school principal and junior high principal at Iuka High School. Beginning with district consolidation, Mr. McClung became the Principal of Iuka Middle School and served in that position until 1999.

In July of 1999, he had the opportunity to move into the position of Elementary School Principal at Saltillo Elementary, which gave him additional experience in early education grade levels. Mr. McClung was named the Assistant Superintendent of Lafayette County Schools in 2003, in which he served until July of 2010.

During his tenure as Assistant Superintendent at Lafayette County Schools, Mr. McClung was responsible staff development, curriculum, Textbooks, Gifted education, recruitment and Employment of new personnel, district and discipline situations, and supervising district maintenance and worked with the Special Education Program.

In 2010, Mr. McClung retired from Lafayette County Schools as Assistant Superintendent and immediately began working with the Mississippi State Department of Education's School of Improvement as an Educational Specialist. In 2011, added the task of working as an Educational Supervisor with the Northwest Mississippi Consortium mentoring new principals and serving as a supervisor of student teachers as an Educational Supervisor for the University of Mississippi.

When asked about being named the Superintendent of Tishomingo County Schools, he stated, "It has always been my dream to one day have the opportunity to serve as Superintendent of my home school district". Mr. McClung also commented that he firmly believes every employee must be working toward the same goal in order for our schools to be as successful as possible and he will work diligently to ensure the district continues to set high expectations in order to build upon the successes that have already been experienced.

"My wife, Dianne, and I feel humbled and extremely blessed about having this opportunity for me to serve as Superintendent, and to come back home and serve in our home county." Mrs. McClung was reared in the Iuka area and served as a teacher in the Iuka Schools for many years. Mr. and Mrs. McClung have two children, Stephanie McClung Magee who is married to Coke Magee and graduated from Tishomingo County High School; and Josh McClung who is married to Laci and graduated from Tishomingo County High School. The McClungs also have four grandchildren; Tripp, Kyle, Carson, and Clark.

Mr. McClung will officially begin serving as Superintendent on July 1, 2012.