Another interim superintendent chosen for Canton schools

By Devna Bose | Originally published by Mississippi Today

Veteran educator Bonita Coleman is the new temporary superintendent of Canton Public School District. 

Coleman comes to the district after more than three decades of working in schools in Mississippi and Maryland. Most recently, she served as superintendent of Ocean Springs School District for a decade before retiring in 2023. 

According to a Canton schools press release, Coleman’s tenure in Ocean Springs was “characterized by a disciplined focus on student achievement, leadership development, organizational effectiveness, fiscal stewardship, safety, and continuous improvement.”

She previously worked in the Clinton and Jackson school districts, led instructional development and early childhood education at the Mississippi Department of Education and served as a professor at Tougaloo College and Jackson State University — both her alma maters. 

“It is an honor to be selected to serve the students and families of Canton Public School District,” Coleman said in a statement. “I look forward to working with leaders and teachers to continue to assess Canton Public Schools’ organizational needs and maintain a strong focus on teaching and learning and operational efficiency.”

The district celebrated Coleman’s hire on Wednesday, immediately after announcing the departure of interim Superintendent Dwight Luckett. Luckett led the district for more than a year, after an initial commitment of five months. He was Canton’s district superintendent from 2006 to 2014. He also served as interim superintendent in 2018.

He gave the school board three weeks’ notice that he was leaving, the release said.

Beverly Luckett, the district’s spokesperson and Luckett’s wife, said Coleman’s appointment is temporary, and the district continues to search for a permanent superintendent. The last permanent superintendent left the district in July 2025.

The district serves roughly 3,100 students, the majority of whom are Black, and is rated a C by the Mississippi Department of Education’s standards. 

This article was originally published by Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Source: Original Article