Superintendent Therese Palmertree has been an active citizen of the McComb community since 2003. Ms. Palmertree earned
her bachelor's degree in education at Augburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and her master's degree in elementary
education and reading from the University of Mississippi. After twenty years as a classroom teacher, this mother of
five teenagers returned to the University of Mississippi to undertake twenty-four hours of coursework in education
administration. She earned her administrative credentials in 2005. Although Ms. Palmertree assumed the leadership
of McComb Public Schools in February 2008, she has served the McComb community as both curriculum director and interim
superintendent before taking on her current position as superintendent. Throughout her thirty-eight year career in
education, Ms. Palmertree has focused on a singular mission—to provide an opportunity for all the children under her care to succeed as
life-long learners and as productive citizens. As superintendent, she has faced difficult financial challenges, leveraging
both human and fiscal resources to ensure that McComb's youth have every opportunity to graduate with the skills they
need to succeed in a 21st Century global marketplace.
Ms. Palmertree believes that it takes a committed community of adults to ensure that all MSD students become academically
proficient learners, ethical critical and creative thinkers, and conscientious innovators and problem solvers. In keeping
with her belief that schools and communities must grow together, Ms. Palmertree has promoted school and community
partnerships such as the Five Promises of the America's Promise Alliance, which is based on the tenet that in order to
be successful, all children need caring adults, safe environments, a healthy start, quality education and opportunities to
serve others.
The Superintendent's Advisory Board
The Superintendent's Advisory Board meets for the purpose of discussing specific interests, concerns, and initiatives
which affect the entire educational community in the McComb School District. These meetings enable the superintendent
and the advisory board to discuss matters which affect the instruction of our students as well as the overall operations
of our schools. Furthermore, these meetings provide a channel for communication within the school district. The hope
is to foster a better understanding of the school district and to improve the opportunities of our students.
The Superintendent's Student Advisory Council
Fifteen McComb High School students serve on the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council. The panel of high school students
include representatives from each grade level. Students meet monthly with the superintendent during the school year to discuss
a variety of topics, share information, provide feedback on high school experiences, prepare for college, career and
citizenship, and broaden understanding of school related issues.
The Superintendent's Teacher Advisory Council
The Superintendent's Teacher Advisory Council is a group of teachers from each school in the district that meet to discuss
how decisions are made and to improve communication with the superintendent and other staff.
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