Leflore County Superintendent of Education Jean Hall appears to have been given the boot by voters despite leading the school district to a “Successful” accountability rating.
Viola Williams, making her third run for the post, led 56 percent to 44 percent, according to unofficial vote totals Tuesday.
Although there theoretically could be enough absentee votes to whittle away Williams’ 454-vote advantage in the machine count, Hall wasn’t holding out much hope.
She all but conceded the contest to Williams Tuesday night.
“When I came home tonight, absentee ballots weren’t on my mind,” Hall said.
“I wish to congratulate my opponent on her victory.”
Williams was ready to claim the education post.
“I feel very excited about winning this race. I’m optimistic about the future of Leflore County,” Williams said.
“The people have spoken. I thank God for all that he has done.”
Williams said Tuesday’s result was the product of relentless campaigning.
“I’ve been working on this campaign for years. I’ve knocked on doors since January,” she said.
Williams, a 1969 graduate of Amanda Elzy High School, has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi Valley State University and a doctorate from Jackson State University.
She worked for more than 20 years in the classroom before moving into administration. She is a former principal at Moorhead Middle School and Ruleville Middle School.
In the closing days of the campaign, Williams promised to keep the school district’s tax levy the same while raising the salaries of teachers and support staff.
Her apparent victory would be considered an upset.
A couple of months ago, the state Department of Education gave Hall some bragging rights as it awarded the school a “Successful” rating, the third highest level in the state’s accountability rankings. The district ballyhooed that designation with signs at school facilities, and Hall made repeated reference to it in her campaign speeches.
The designation, though, apparently was not enough to keep voters in the longtime Leflore County administrator’s column.
“I put all I had into it. You have to remember the voters gave me that job,” Hall said.
She won the position in 2007, succeeding her brother-in-law Cedell Pulley when he retired. Hall’s sister, Margie Pulley, is superintendent of the Greenwood School District.
Hall said she has no regrets regarding her 27 years in the field of education.
“I thought I had the best job in the world. I think I’m a great instructional leader for the teachers and the students,” she said.
• Contact Bob Darden at bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
