By Adam Hogue

3/3/16

DeSoto County, nestled in the shadow of the city of Memphis just across the Mississippi state line, boasts the second largest public school system in the Memphis metropolitan area. With 34,000 students spread out across 42 schools, the DeSoto County Schools system is the largest in the state of Mississippi, and at the helm of it all is newly-elected Superintendent of Education Cory Uselton.

Uselton replaced former Superintendent Milton Kuykendall in the wake of his retirement. In the August 2015 election, Uselton won the votes of north Mississippi residents with his vision for the county’s young minds.

“I want for all of our students to have the opportunity to be successful when they graduate from high school, and I want our school district to be recognized as one of the top school districts in the nation,” Uselton said.

Hailing from Humboldt, Tennessee, Uselton, 47, who originally graduated from the University of Memphis in 1991 with a degree in business administration, also holds a master’s degree in education from Delta State University, and a specialist’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Mississippi. Now in his 22nd year in the field, Uselton said he was drawn to education because of the influences he had growing up.

“I wanted to help students just like the teachers and coaches that I had in high school,” Uselton said.

The decision to try his hand at superintendent seemed predetermined for Uselton. DeSoto County’s new superintendent got his start as a social studies teacher and head boys’ basketball coach at Pontotoc High School in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, and from there Uselton’s rise in the field of education has been full of accolades.

In 2015, Uselton was named the Mississippi High School Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals for the 2014-2015 school year. Just one year earlier, he was named the 2013 Principal of the Year for DeSoto County Schools, as well as being named the 2013 Administrator of the Year for the First Congressional District of Mississippi.

Horn Lake Middle School history and theater teacher Cara Smith said she believes that DCS is in great hands with Uselton. Smith worked with Uselton at Horn Lake High School where he served as an assistant principal from 2004 to 2007.

“The things that made him a strong assistant principal and principal will make him a strong superintendent,” Smith said of Uselton. “He is decisive and believes in taking action and moving forward; I’m excited about where he will lead our district.”

Now in his 13th year with DCS, Uselton is not unfamiliar with the issues facing his school system.

“We still have the challenge of steady growth in DeSoto County, and our schools have only been fully funded on just a few occasions,” Uselton said.

Cory Uselton is sworn into office of as the superintendent of DeSoto County Schools in this Facebook photo. Uselton now oversees the largest public school system in the state of Mississippi, with 42 schools and 34,000 students.

DeSoto County consistently ranks as one of the largest growing areas in the country as far as population is concerned, mostly accredited to the exodus of Memphis residents as they escape the city and settle in the county. Uselton says that being in a suburb of Memphis provides “quite a bit of attention and notoriety,” as well as an extra strain on school officials as they attempt to confirm the incoming students’ records.

“We have many students each year that come to DeSoto County from Memphis and other areas in the Mid-South,” Uselton said. “As long as the parents have a legitimate residence, everything is fine, but we have to make sure that the parents really do live here.”

Officially sworn into office on Jan. 3, Uselton described his first two months in office as “exciting,” but admits that he is still adjusting to some aspects of the job, including time management.

“It’s hard to accommodate everyone’s requests,” he said. “I want to attend as many school events as possible, but it’s just not possible to attend everything that I am invited to.”

A member of Hernando Baptist Church where he serves as a deacon, Uselton is involved in the community outside of the school system. He and his wife Amanda have two young sons, Jackson, 12, and Will, 9, who both attend Hernando schools and participate in basketball and competitive soccer leagues. And recently, Uselton made his theatrical debut, being seen in DeSoto Family Theatre’s Christmas production of the classic “Miracle on 34^th Street.”

“It was a great opportunity to showcase the relationship between DFT and DeSoto County Schools,” said Uselton. “I really enjoy representing DeSoto County Schools.”

 

About Cory Uselton 

Age: 47

Education: University of Memphis, Delta State University, University of Mississippi

Career: DeSoto County Schools Superintendent of Education

Family: Wife, Amanda; sons, Jackson and Will

Favorite ice cream: Chocolate

You have the day off from work and no immediate responsibilities to handle; describe your perfect day off. Just spend time with my family.