WEST LINCOLN  — West Lincoln principal John Shows was named the Superintendent of Pearl River County School District Monday morning. He was selected from a pool of 11 applicants for the position according to a statement issued by the Pearl River County School District.  

His first day as Superintendent will be January 21, 2023. 

“West Lincoln is a special place. We have a really good staff here and we have accomplished a lot of things. I am excited about the opportunity,” Shows said. “I told (Lincoln County Superintendent David) Martin and the school board I appreciate them for giving me an opportunity to work here. I actually got to talk to the school board today and inform them I would be going to Pearl River County.” 

Shows has 22 years of experience in education which includes work as a coach, teacher, assistant principal and principal. His career started in DeSoto County in 1999 before moving on to Morton High School and Mendenhall Junior High School. He was also a principal and assistant principal in the Tate County School District for seven years and earned administrator of the year in 2013 and 2015. 

From 2016 to 2021, West Lincoln Attendance Center was the highest performing school in Lincoln County during his tenure. The Bears had an accountability rating of A for the 2021 and 2022 school year after several years of being a B school.

“We worked hard last year both the teachers and the students. We were also top 10 in the state in test scores,” Shows said. “I think the culture is here and they will continue to strive for excellence. It will always be a thing here. I think West Lincoln will continue that tradition.” 

He will also leave behind the Board of Trustees at Co-Lin. 

“We did a lot of good things there too. They were supportive of me and I made lifelong friends there,” he said. “I will leave behind two places and both mean a lot to me.” 

More information will be added to this story when it becomes available.