Mississippi’s Broadband Expansion and Accessibility office (BEAM) is working hard to ensure that all Mississippians have access to high-quality internet service, something that is critical to the success of our school children and teachers, as school resources increasingly are found online. Please help BEAM identify the areas of the state that need improved internet access by taking just 3-5 minutes to complete this brief survey online.
Please also help us spread the word that first-year teachers can apply to have their college loans paid down through the Winter-Reed Loan Repayment Program. The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid will accept applications for the program through September 15. Loan repayment will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to 150 qualifying teachers, with priority given to those in geographic shortage areas. To be eligible, applicants must be employed full-time as first-year teachers or librarians in a Mississippi public school district. Second- or third-year teachers who have participated in the program in prior years may apply for renewal. Find the application and additional information here.
Voters in six House Districts will return to the polls for a Primary Runoff Election on Tuesday, August 29. If you live in one of the districts listed below, please check out our Candidate Q&A website to find what the candidates have to say about issues that affect your public schools – then help get voters to the polls in support of your chosen candidate.
- HD 2: Alcorn County
- HD 66: Hinds County
- HD 69: Hinds County
- HD 72: Hinds and Madison Counties
- HD 105: George, Greene, and Perry Counties
- HD 115: Harrison County
Your runoff vote is important! Typically, fewer people vote in runoff elections, making it even more likely that your vote for a public school supporter will carry the day for our children. If you voted in one party’s Primary Election on August 8, you cannot vote in another party’s Primary Runoff Election on August 29 (can’t switch parties for the runoff). If you did not vote at all in the Primary Election on August 8, you may vote in either party’s Runoff Election. If you will be out of town on August 29, you may vote absentee in your Circuit Clerk’s office. Circuit Clerk’s offices are open Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will be open for absentee voting this Saturday, August 19, and next Saturday, August 26, from 8:00 a.m. until noon.
Our Election Toolkit makes it easy for you to get involved! Share information about the runoff candidates on social media and with your family and friends – and encourage your friends in runoff districts to vote for public school supporters on Tuesday, August 29. Together, we’ve got this!
