EXCELLENCE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Grower & Hewes - Capital Partner
Dr. Cindy Morgan is a former teacher, central office administrator, research professor, and current co-owner of The Excellence Group.
Dr. Morgan's experience includes serving as the Principal Investigator for the development and implementation of the statewide MS-CPAS assessments at Mississippi State University's Research and Curriclum Unit as well as the statewide Alternate Assessment program provided by The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Dr. Morgan also provided statewide training for Career and Technical and Special Educators to develop items and score the assessments.
As an administrator, Dr. Morgan wrote and administered both federal and state grants, directed the district counseling program, and provided curriclum and assessment development and alignment for staff, including ELL teachers as well as worked on scheduling and staffing for schools and districts. Dr. Morgan was also instrumental in assisting with strategic planning for continuous improvement on the accountability model at the school and district level to maintain the highest level of accountability.
Dr. Cindy Morgan is a former teacher, central office administrator, and professor. Dr. Morgan is a current co-owner of The Excellence Group, LLC. Dr. Morgan's area of expertise is data analysis and accountability.
Dr. Leigh Mobley has over 26 years of experience in Mississippi schools as a teacher, school principal, and district level administrator. Leigh brings a district level perspective that enhances the Excellence Group desire to assist Mississippi schools.
Dr. Mina Ross Bryan-Lightsey is a former teacher, principal, curriculum coordinator, central office administrator, and superintendent.
Dr. Bryan-Lightsey is co-owner of The Excellence Group and lends her vast experience in Mississippi schools to training teachers and administrators to be better instructional leaders.
Dr. Bryan-Lightsey's vast experience as a school leader gives her an extensive knowledge of currirculum and instruction. She has successfully used her teacher mentoring and coaching skills as well as her ability to assist students in reaching academic goals to lead districts to increased academic success.
Dr. Bryan-Lightsey has served Mississippi schools as a teacher, principal, curriculum coordinator, central office administrator, and superintendent. She is currently a co-owner of The Excellence Group, LLC. Dr. Lightsey assists districts with teacher coaching and mentoring, administrative mentoring, and strategic planning.
Arthur McMillan joined The Excellence Group, LLC after serving for eight years as Superintendent of the Biloxi Public School District. Mr. McMillan plays a key role in program development, marketing and operations.
Mr. McMillan has a long list of accomplishments in public education in both large and small school districts, including Superintendent of the Enterprise and Biloxi School Districts. Under McMillan's leadership, both the Enterprise and Biloxi School Districts significantly increased their operating fund balances and increased their State accreditation levels to the highest possible level. McMillan also has experience as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal. Mr. McMillan enhances the Excellence Group's ability to continue providing public schools the highest level of professional services available.
Mr. Arthur McMillan is a former school superintendent, teacher, and administrator in Mississippi school districts of all sizes. Mr. McMillan assists districts in the areas of administrative mentoring, school board assistance, and marketing.
Mr. Eddie Prather is co-owner of The Excellence Group. During his over thirty years in Mississippi Schools, Mr. Prather served as a classroom teacher, principal, central office administrator, and superintendent.
Presently, Mr. Prather serves as a Board of Trustee for Tupelo School District in Tupelo, MS. He has also served on the CREATE Foundation Board of Directors as well as several other community and non-profit organizations including the Accountability task force for the Mississippi Department of Education.
Mr. Eddie Prather worked in Mississippi public schools for over thirty years as a classroom teacher, principal, central office administrator, and superintendent. Mr. Prather is currently a co-owner of The Excellence Group, LLC and assists districts in the area of administrative mentoring and school board assistance.
Mr. Jim Young is a founding member of The Excellence Group. He has spent over three decades practicing law, primarily for the benefit of Mississippi public schools. Jim, with the help of his colleagues, have helped more than two-thirds of Mississippi public school districts construct and repair school facilities, purchase buses and make other capital improvements though public finance options, such as bonds, notes and leases. Jim has represented more Mississippi school districts on school bond elections than any other practicing attorney. Jim especially enjoys working with school districts to help them finance projects and accomplish their goals through unique and creative alternatives.
Jim is also licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission as a Series 50 municipal advisor, which enhances his ability to work with school districts in analyzing their options for issuing bonds, notes and leases to finance projects. Jim also has extensive experience in helping schools on construction, business, ad valorem tax and 16th Section matters.
Over the years, Jim has also worked on a pro bono basis to create opportunities for Mississippi school districts, through drafting beneficial school legislation, assisting with the development of a distance learning physics project, assisting school districts with school consolidation matters and assisting various state-wide school associations. Jim is also a regular presenter at school conferences and school training sessions.
Mr. Jim Young has vast experience working with Mississippi school districts on legal issues and finance and bond issues. He has a unique perspective and desire to help school districts make the most of every dollar. Mr. Young is currently co-owner of The Excellence Group, LLC.