Board names Evans Superintendent of New Albany’s schools

The Board of Trustees of the New Albany School District has selected Lance Evans to serve as the district’s next superintendent, following a two-month search that began with employee and community meetings in February. Mr. Evans has been with New Albany School District for 12 years serving as the elementary principal and his current position as the high school principal. During that time, he has carried both schools to an “A” accountability rating, the highest in the state. He will begin leadership of the district on July 1, 2017.

“With his thorough knowledge of New Albany and the needs of the district’s children, coupled with his formidable strength as an education leader, the board is convinced that he is the right person for the job of superintendent at this time in New Albany’s history,” said School Board President Brad Clayton.

Clayton said board members weighed the individual merits of each candidate, the sentiments of the various stakeholders, and the board’s own scrutiny of the candidates’ attributes and credentials before making their decision.

“This is one of those cases where we were looking for the right leader in a lot of places, only to discover that we have what we need in our own backyard,” said Clayton. “We believe Lance Evans will make an excellent leader for the New Albany School District. We would also like to thank the Mississippi School Boards Association for its expertise and guidance during this process.”

Evans will replace New Albany School District retiring superintendent Jackie Ford, who announced earlier this year that he will not seek renewal of his contract.