Griffin Named Meridian High School Principal For 2020-21 School Year

Press release from the Meridian Public School District:

April 21, 2020

Meridian, MS- April 21, 2020 – The Meridian Public School District School Board approved the hiring of Dr. Joe Griffin as the new principal for Meridian High School for the 2020-21 school year. Dr. Griffin will officially begin his position on July 1, 2020.

Dr. Griffin has previously served as a teacher, coach, and administrator for over 18 years, serving as principal of Moss Point High School since 2016. In his first year as principal at Moss Point, test scores increased 136 points moving the school from a letter grade of a D to a B.

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Griffin to the MHS family,” said Dr. Amy Carter, MPSD Superintendent. His academic track record speaks for itself and I look forward to Dr. Griffin building on the foundation that is at Meridian High School.”

Dr. Griffin received his Ph.D. and Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Mississippi, M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Delta State University, and B.A. in English from Belhaven College.

He previously served as principal of West Bolivar High in the MS Delta, Amanda Elzy High School in Greenwood, and Heidelberg High School in East Jasper School District before becoming principal at Moss Point High. During his tenure at each high school, student achievement improved. He is known for his focus on increasing academic outcomes for students at the high school and collegiate levels. Dr. Griffin had served as an adjunct professor of English at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Coahoma Community College, and Mississippi Valley State University.

While principal at Moss Point, the school was named a PREPS Award Winner for English in 2016-17 and US History in 2017-18, where only 30 high schools in the state received the award. The school also received a “B” rating for the 2018-19 school year. He was also named the Moss Point School District Administrator of the Year in 2018. He is also a graduate of Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Workshop, National Institute for School Leadership, and Millsap’s College Principal’s Institute.

“The students of Meridian deserve the best chance to get the best education,” said Griffin. “It is my goal to place students and teachers in an environment in which everyone flourishes.”

Dr. Griffin replaces Victor Hubbard, who is taking the position of principal of Hattiesburg High School after 11 years with MPSD.

This press release was produced by the Meridian Public School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.