Two schools in the Columbia district will be having new leadership at the top.
The school board on March 12 approved Jay Rayborn as the new principal at Columbia Primary School, and Columbia Elementary Principal Robert White will become the district’s director of curriculum.
Rayborn, 38, had been vice principal at Columbia Primary and before that he was the vice principal at CHS and principal at Bogue Chitto Attendance Center in Lincoln County. The Columbia native and Columbia High School graduate played baseball at Pearl River Community College before getting his undergraduate degree from Southern Miss. He received his master’s degree from Mississippi Valley State and a PhD in education leadership from Southern Miss.
In a statement released by Superintendent Jason Harris, Rayborn said, “It is a humbling honor to be chosen to lead Columbia Primary School!”
After the board approved the personnel recommendations, which were not read aloud, Harris announced Rayborn as the new principal. There was no mention of the former principal, Heather Singley. Last month Harris had said Singley, who had been principal since 2017, would finish out the school year at Columbia Primary before moving on to a career at the college level.
The board did not discuss the matter during the meeting. A list of departures approved at the meeting was not available, and a district official said it would not be ready until after spring break.
White was named principal at Columbia Elementary in December 2015. He had previously served as the assistant principal at Jefferson Middle School and is a Marion County native and graduate of the Southern Miss and William Carey University.
In Harris’ statement, White said, “I appreciate Dr. Harris for giving me this opportunity.”
In his new role White will be replacing Dee Dee Randall, who will become the director of human investment. The new position will involve looking at the district’s culture, recruiting, retention, training, development, planning and change.
“I think it is pivotal as we look to continue to improve our school district in every way,” Harris said.
Even though Randall has been appointed to the position, the board received the first draft of the job’s description. Salary and other information regarding the position was not publicized at the meeting.
“I look forward to serving and supporting our staff in this new capacity,” Randall said in the statement.
Harris announced the search has begun for a new elementary principal and a new primary vice principal.
There were also some coaching changes. Ryan Loftin will replace Scott Fitzgerald as the CHS volleyball coach, and Amy Terrell replaces Sara Russell as the head coach for cheerleading. Coach Charlie James will no longer be leading the boys’ basketball team; instead he will be focusing all of his attention on the girls’ program. Principal Braxton Stowe said a search is underway for a new boys’ coach.
