Spurgeon Banyard

Spurgeon Banyard, PhD, is a Jackson, Mississippi academic leader who serves as principal within the Jackson Public Schools. Over the past several years, he has been successful in boosting student performance when it comes to state assessments. At the same time, Dr. Spurgeon Banyard has set in place a safe, well-regulated environment that encourages productive learning.

Known for transforming institutions that are failing academically, Dr. Banyard previously held similar responsibilities with the Lafayette Parish Schools in Louisiana. He created a performance-based system of accountability among staff members that resulted in state recognition as a “Top Gain School” over three consecutive years. This involved boosting the school performance rating by double digits on an annual basis.

Active in his professional community, Dr. Banyard is a longstanding member of the National Education Association, and is also a member of the Mississippi Association of Educators. Dr. Spurgeon Banyard’s background includes service in the U.S. Army, and he holds certification as a Mississippi law enforcement officer.