Allison Washington has been appointed to the Greenville Public School Board unseating two-term member and former board president Jan Vaughn, during the Greenville City Council’s regular session meeting on Tuesday
Two of the six candidates received nominating motions from council members.
Ward Five Councilman Dr. Bill Brozovich nominated Jan Vaughn.
Vaughn, who is currently the vice president of the board and, whose most recent term on the board ends Feb. 28.
Vaughn was originally appointed to fill an unexpired term in August of 2011, has served two full 5-year terms to the present, and is seeking a reappointment from the council.
Vaughn has a master’s degree in education and was a former president of the State School Board Association.
For the substitute motion, Ward Six Councilman James Wilson Sr. nominated Allison Washington.
Washington holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in biological sciences, a master’s degree in educational leadership, and an educational specialist degree in curriculum, instruction, management, and administration.
Substitute motions are handled first.
The vote was split with Ward One Councilman Al Brock, Ward Three Councilman Vernon Greenlee, and Wilson voting for Washington, and Ward Two Councilwoman Lois Hawkins, Ward Four Councilwoman Lurann Thomas, and Brozovich voting against Washington.
Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons, who has the responsibility of deciding the outcome of a tied vote, voted in favor of Washington.
Simmons thanked Vaughn for her years of service and dedication to the city of Greenville’s School district and then congratulated Washington for her newly appointed position on the board.
Washington is a Greenville native, educated in the Greenville Public School District.
She is a member of the T. L. Weston High School Class of 1990 and has lived much of her life in Greenville.
Washington is the mother of three children, Kyla, Bethany, and Shurn Jr.
“I live under the mantra of being a lifelong learner, and an advocate for education,” Washington said.
She obtained her bachelor's and master’s degrees from Delta State University and her education specialist degree from Nova Southeastern University.
Washington has more than 20 years of experience as a classroom teacher, academic coach, education transformational specialist, graduation coach, and assistant principal.
Her career has been spent serving Mississippi Delta public schools, with 16 of those years in service to the Greenville Public School District.
“As a new board member, I would like to take the first 30 days to become acclimated to the new role, and I will spend the first 90 days learning and internalizing the Mississippi Code of 2020, Section 37-7-301 et al. (the code governing the Boards of Trustees; General Powers and Duties)” Washington said.
Washington expressed her gratitude to God, the Greenville City Council, and Simmons for their vote of confidence.
She expressed her enthusiasm for working alongside the other board of trustees.
“I look forward to serving with integrity, honor, and by the leading of the Holy Ghost as we continue to provide opportunities for all students to achieve success,” Washington said.
