OKOLONA, Miss. (WTVA) -- Three candidates gave it their best shot during an Okolona School Board meeting Sunday.
Dexter Green has 23 years of experience in the education field.
He's worked in several school districts and is most proud of his accomplishments in the Tunica School District.
Dr. Debra Dace is a native of the Delta, and she has 21 years of experience in the education field.
Dace has worked in Tunica County and other districts, and served as a curriculum and test coordinator.
Jackson, Tennessee native Dr. Jerry Woods has worked in education for decades as both teacher and administrator.
"We have three candidates all equally strong and we feel like all of them have a vision for leading Okolona forward. We would be satisfied with any one of the them," Board of Trustees Member Nancy Sullivan said.
"We're losing our kids and kids are not interested anymore. By having someone who cares it will make a difference," said Okolona resident Hudson Williams.
"Teachers and everybody will follow when our students start doing well. Somebody that's really strong and really stable, very consistent, and cares a lot about the district is what we need most," teacher Genevieve Turkett said.
"Your success quite often hinges on having an effective leader in place and that is what we were lacking," Board of Trustees Chairman Jerome Smith said.
"Now it's time since the state of emergency was lifted that we get to this point. So that there is a leader for this school district that can take this school district to the next level as far as student achievement and other goals that the community and the board sets for itself," Conservator Mac Curlee said.
The new leader is Dr. Jerry Woods.
"We have some challenges in the area of academic achievement and I want us to work together in a strategic fashion to make sure that happens," Dr. Woods said.
