The Mississippi Licensure Commission convened on November 1, 2024, to address several key agenda items, primarily focusing on the approval of ratifications of agreed orders and voluntary surrenders related to educator misconduct.

The meeting commenced with Mr. Scott DeJonge presenting five agreed orders for ratification, alongside one standalone confidentiality cooperation agreement. These orders pertain to violations of the Mississippi educator code of ethics, specifically under Mississippi Code Annotated 37-9-57, Standard 10. The educators involved have consented to relinquish their licenses without the need for a disciplinary hearing.

The following educators were identified for license relinquishment: Lisa Cummings from Lauderdale County School District, Beverly Collins from Wilkinson County School District, Jocelyn Nixon from Meridian Public School District, Corey Neese from Winona Montgomery Consolidated School District, and Sally Long from Lauderdale County School District. The licenses of these individuals will be suspended or surrendered effective from the date of ratification until June 30, 2025. They will be eligible for reinstatement after the suspension period, provided they petition for reinstatement in accordance with Mississippi Code Annotated 37-3-214(a).

Additionally, a cooperation agreement was discussed involving educator Kelsey Hill, who has agreed to cooperate fully in an investigation concerning testing irregularities at the Jackson Public School District during the spring 2023 Mississippi academic assessment program. This agreement, established on October 14, 2024, stipulates that the Mississippi Department of Education will refrain from pursuing further actions against Hill, contingent upon her full cooperation.

The meeting concluded with a focus on maintaining the integrity of the educational standards in Mississippi, emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct among educators. The commission's decisions reflect ongoing efforts to uphold these standards and address misconduct effectively.