MAFEPD CONFERENCE 2026
2026 MAFEPD CONFERENCE AGENDA
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
7:15-4:30 Registration and Visit Exhibitors
7:15-8:15 Breakfast Buffet-Grand Ballroom C
8:15-10:00 General Session- Welcome/Overview, Grand Ballroom A-B
Dr. Rico Buckhaulter, MAFEPD President
Dr. Judy Nelson, MDE Federal Programs
Speaker- Coach Camp
10:00-10:15 Break & Visit Exhibitors
10:15-11:30 General Session-Bruman, Grand Ballroom A-B
11:30-11:45 Break & Visit Exhibitors
11:45-1:15 Luncheon-Grand Ballroom C
Speaker- Rita Brent
1:15-1:45 Break & Visit Exhibitors
1:45-2:45 Concurrent Sessions
Jr. Ballroom D- The Private School Playbook: Strategy, Compliance, Success-Melissa Garrison,
Harrison County
Meeting Room B- How Our District Serves McKinney Vento Students: Enrollment Practices and Use of Funds-
Jeni Chandler, Tupelo Schools
Jr. Ballroom A-Lead the Read: Leadership Moves That Change Reading Outcomes- Dr. Melissa McCray, Rankin
County School District
Jr. Ballroom B-From Compliance to Capacity: Elevating On-Site Support for School Improvement Success-Dr. Micca
Knox, Jackson Public Schools
Jr. Ballroom C-Planning and Organizing Federal Programs-Kathy True, Lafayette County Schools
Meeting Room A- Federal Programs: Beyond the Grant-Dr. Chavis Bradford, Hattiesburg Public Schools
2:45-3:00 Break & Visit Exhibitors
3:00-4:00 Concurrent Sessions
Jr. Ballroom D- Foster Care-Cynthia Hardy, CPS
Meeting Room B- Adjusting the Lens on McKinney Vento-Mrs. Tiffany Jones, Jackson Public Schools
Jr. Ballroom A- From ATSI to Acceleration: Leveraging District Partnerships to Drive Elementary School
Turnaround- Dr. Taylor Sparks, Tupelo Schools
Jr. Ballroom B- A Web of Policies and Procedures: Managing the Strings of Federal Accountability-Dr. Missy Bufkin,
Jones County
Jr. Ballroom C- Ensuring Compliance: Best Practices for English Learner Enrollment Procedures-Shelley Silvas,
Harrison County
Meeting Room A- Ballroom C- Reimagining Parent and Community Engagement-Adrian Cross Phillips, Meridian
Public Schools Care-Cynthia Hardy, CPS
Thursday, June 25, 2026
7:15-4:00 Registration & Visit Exhibitors
7:15-9:15 Breakfast & Annual MAFEPD Business Meeting
9:15-9:45 Break & Visit Exhibitors
9:45-11:00 General Session- Grand Ballroom A-B
Dr. Judy Nelson, Elisha Campbell
11:00-1:00 Lunch: Conference Participants on your own
1:00-2:00 Concurrent Sessions
Jr. Ballroom D- The Hallmark Myth vs. The Rural Reality-Shauna Bostick, Lee County Schools
Meeting Room B- Beyond Compliance: Leveraging Federal Dollars to Transform Instruction for English Learners-
Heather Byars, Tupelo Schools & Dr. Monique Henderson, English Learners Engage
Jr. Ballroom A- From ATSI to Acceleration: Leveraging District Partnerships to Drive Elementary School Turnaround-
Dr. Taylor Sparks, Tupelo Schools
Jr. Ballroom B- Reimagining Parent and Community Engagement-Adrian Cross Phillips, Meridian Public School
Jr. Ballroom C- Strengthening Parent Engagement-Courtney Campbell and Marion Winders, Tupelo Public Schools
Meeting Room A- From Foundation to Flourish: How to Prepare New Principals for Title I Success-Christine Beeker,
Meridian Public Schools & Kish- Russell Yoquelet, Kish Russell Grants and Compliance
2:00-2:30 Break & Visit Exhibitors
2:30-3:30 Concurrent Sessions
Jr. Ballroom D- Foster Care-Cynthia Hardy, CPS
Meeting Room B- How Our District Serves McKinney Vento Students: Enrollment Practices and Use of Funds -Jeni
Chandler, Tupelo Schools
Jr. Ballroom A- Lead the Read: Leadership Moves That Change Reading Outcomes-Dr. Melissa McCray, Rankin
County School District
Jr. Ballroom B- A Web of Policies and Procedures: Managing the Strings of Federal Accountability-Dr. Missy Bufkin,
Jones County
Jr. Ballroom C- Planning and Organizing Federal Programs-Kathy True, Lafayette County Schools
Meeting Room A- Reimaging EL Support: The Atlas Journey-Mrs. Patrice Razor, Jackson Public Schools
Friday, June 26, 2026
7:15-8:00 Continental Breakfast- Grand Ballroom C
8:00-9:00 Concurrent Sessions
Jr. Ballroom D- The Private School Playbook: Strategy, Compliance, Success-Melissa Garrison, Harrison County
Meeting Room B- Beyond Compliance: Using Federal Funds to Drive Student Achievement- Andrea McGreger,
Amory Schools
Jr. Ballroom A- Reimagining Continuous School Improvement: A Principal’s Journey Using AI to Strengthen
Coaching and PLCs-John Keith, South Tippah Schools-Dr. Keshia Swaringam, SIBME
Jr. Ballroom B- The Hallmark Myth vs. The Rural Reality-Shauna Bostick, Lee County Schools
Jr. Ballroom C- Supporting English Learners through Theory, Intervention, and Measurable Growth-Dr.
Marcus Holbert, Forest Municipal School District & Cynthia Gabbert and Ken Byars-Kids First
Meeting Room A- Beyond Compliance: Leveraging Federal Dollars to Transform Instruction for English Learners-
Heather Byars, Tupelo Schools & Dr. Monique Henderson, English Learners Engage
9:00-9:15 Break
9:15-9:45 General Session, Ballroom A-B
Speaker- Kim Benton
9:45-11:30 Updates from MDE, Ballroom A-B
11:30-12:30 Speaker- Weston Kiechnick, Ballroom A-B
12:30-1:00 Door Prizes-Must be present to win.
Closing Remarks & Adjourn
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