JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced the 2025 Mississippi Administrator of the Year and the 2025 Mississippi Teacher of the Year.
- Administrator of the Year – Dr. Marsha Peoples, principal at East Flora Elementary School in the Madison County School District
- Teacher of the Year – Ashley Barefoot, teacher at Longleaf Elementary School in the Lamar County School District
The winners were announced at a program on April 25 led by MDE’s Office of Teaching and Leading at the Jackson Convention Complex. The program celebrated all school districts’ top 2025 administrators of the year and teachers of the year as well as recognized the 2025 Mississippi Parent of the Year Anna Jones, a mother of two with one student in the Clarksdale Municipal School District.
The annual Mississippi Administrator of the Year program honors an administrator who demonstrates superior ability to inspire teachers, to employ exemplary leadership practices and to participate as an active member of the community. The recipient receives a $5,000 stipend and shares expertise through various presentations and activities for the improvement of education in the state.
The annual Mississippi Teacher of the Year program recognizes an exemplary teacher in the state who inspires students, demonstrates leadership both inside and outside the classroom and serves as an active member of the community. The award recipient also receives a $5,000 stipend and will share expertise through various presentations and activities. Barefoot will represent Mississippi in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
The alternate 2025 Mississippi Administrator of the Year is Zane Thomas, principal at Houston High School in the Chickasaw County School District; and the alternate 2025 Mississippi Teacher of the Year is Tobie Lambert, teacher at Mississippi School of the Arts.