Shannon Vincent, Ph.D.

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Dr. Shannon Vincent is a retired Superintendent on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where she served for the past seven and a half years. A former principal, assistant principal, and teacher, Dr. Vincent has also served as Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, Grand Canyon University, Mississippi State University, and Columbia University. She has been a school administrator for more than the past 21 years and a high school teacher for the 5 years prior to that. During her educational career, she has worked in many leadership capacities and uses all of those experiences to coach and mentor new and aspiring teachers, teacher leaders, and administrators.

Some of her most significant accomplishments as Superintendent have been increasing the graduation rate from 66.8% in 2015 to 88.0% (MS state average) in 2022, improvement of all 4 schools by at least one letter grade according to the state accountability system, improvement of 2 of the 4 schools by at least two letter grades according to the state accountability system and retiring leaving the high school 5 points from an A rating according to the state accountability system. Additionally, the District that was 1 point above an F in 2015 upon arrival was improved to a C+ rating in the 2022 Accountability cycle under Dr. Vincent’s leadership. Finally, the academic improvements are significant as there has not been sustained academic improvement in the district in many of these areas in the past two decades.

Over the years, Dr. Vincent has been entrusted to serve on the boards of trustees for several organizations, including the Mississippi Association for Middle Level Education (MAMLE), Jackson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the Gulf Coast Education Initiative Consortium (GCEIC) Board and the Executive Board of the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents (MASS) and is currently serving on the Singing River Federal Credit Union (SRFCU) Board. Further, Dr. Vincent is a 25-year Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Mississippi Gulf Coast Alumnae Chapter, and a charter member of the Gulf Coast (MS) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, both community service organizations.

Dr. Vincent enjoys presenting at state, regional, and national conferences, and participating in panel discussions on education where she focuses on topics such as: leadership, dealing with difficult students, behavior interventions, and diversity issues in education.

Dr. Shannon Vincent earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Xavier University of Louisiana. Since then, she has earned a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision, an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership – Dissertation Topic: African American Male Students at the Middle School Level and Related Disciplinary Infractions.

Fredrick Douglass’ quote, “It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men” has driven Dr. Vincent’s work for her entire leadership career.