Monday, August 15, 2022
Contact: Lydia Palmer
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Christina Reynolds has joined Mississippi State University and Starkville Oktibbeha County School District’s Partnership Middle School at MSU as director and education liaison.
The school represents a longstanding partnership between the university and school district, which led to the realization in 2020 of a 128,000-square-foot facility on the university campus that now serves all sixth and seventh graders in the local district. The school also serves as a demonstration site for future educators enrolled in the MSU College of Education.
Although this is Reynolds’ first time on MSU’s faculty, she is no stranger to campus, having attended the university to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She currently is completing a Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Educational Leadership with a concentration in P-12 school leadership.
A native of Northeast Mississippi, Reynolds started her post-graduate career at Sudduth Elementary School in Starkville, where she worked for six years before moving on to work as a learning coordinator at Choctaw County High School in the Choctaw County School District.
Reynolds said her return to MSU was sparked by her love for the university and the city of Starkville.
“I’m really excited about the opportunities that the kids of Starkville and Oktibbeha County can have,” Reynolds said. “Every child enrolled in public school gets this opportunity. The kids love it. They are really excited about the Partnership Middle School and enjoy the advantages that the school offers.”
The MSU-SOCSD Partnership Middle School seeks to promote the educational success of local middle school students to positively impact the future of education and the community. This is primarily accomplished through teachers’ collaborative research and development on effectively instructing students. In addition to time in the state-of-the-art classrooms, students also can utilize the available STEM-related activities.
Reynolds is well-equipped to oversee program faculty as she has worked closely with her predecessor Amanda Tullos, who she describes as a “role model and inspiration.”
“Christina Reynolds is an asset for the university, college and the MSU-SOCSD Partnership School,” said Dean of MSU’s College of Education Teresa Jayroe. “Mrs. Reynold’s leadership
skills, dedication to education, and expertise are positively impacting the 6th and 7th grade students, pre-service teachers and faculty.”
Reynolds said the school cultivates new educational facets that continue to set it apart, with both students and faculty seeking strategies to improve education in the state and community by first tackling the issue of student engagement.
Keeping students interested in school and further developing their curiosity is one of Reynolds’ top priorities. She has had great success with keeping children engaged, and during her time at Sudduth Elementary she was honored as Teacher of the Year twice.
One of her biggest goals for her first year as director is to continue developing additional opportunities for students of all ages in Oktibbeha County to gain the type of experiences that are available at Partnership Middle School.
Established in 1903, MSU’s College of Education is home to six academic departments, one research unit and numerous service units. For more about the college, visit www.educ.msstate.edu/. The MSU-SOCSD Partnership Middle School is online at https://www.campusservices.msstate.edu/projects/partnership-school.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.
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