The National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS) has announced Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) Executive Director Dr. Germain McConnell as the 2021 President for the Board of Directors.
Dr. McConnell brings over 22 years of education experience. After graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering, he began his career in education as a high school mathematics teacher in Tunica County, MS as a member of the Mississippi Teacher Corps (MTC). He then served as Program Coordinator for the MTC program before being hired as Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor in the School of Education at the University of Mississippi. After 11 years at the University of Mississippi, Dr. McConnell transitioned back to the K-12 level in 2011 at MSMS, serving for two years as Director for Academic Affairs before his current role as Executive Director. Under Dr. McConnell’s leadership, MSMS has been consistently recognized as one of the top public high schools in the country, including two consecutive years at No. 6 according to Niche (2019 and 2020).
“NCSSS is made up of the top STEM secondary schools throughout the country, and that means every person serving on the Board has to be an acknowledged STEM leader and educator,” NCSSS Executive Director Todd Mann said. “Dr. Germain McConnell more than fits that bill. Through his passion, his energy, and his vision, the organization looks forward to moving ahead significantly under his leadership as its president.”
As NCSSS president, Dr. McConnell plans to work alongside the Board of Directors to:
- Encourage more institutions to join NCSSS
- Increase networking opportunities among education professionals at different schools
- Increase awareness of NCSSS
- Increase awareness for the need of STEM educators
“It has been my pleasure to work with Dr. McConnell since 2016,” said Daniel Dorsel, President of the Board of Directors at NCSSS and Senior Vice-President for Residential at South Carolina’s Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics. “Dr. McConnell’s strong leadership and voice was felt and appreciated immediately, and he continues to positively impact our organization and the schools we serve. He is passionate about education, in particular about providing challenging and engaging programs for students and meaningful and supportive programs for faculty and staff. As outgoing President, I am excited about the direction and new heights in which Mr. McConnell will lead NCSSS.”
ABOUT NCSSS
Established in 1988, NCSSS provides a forum for specialized secondary schools focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines to exchange information and program ideas. As of 2018, the Consortium is comprised of over 100 member schools (high schools), many ‘ranked’ as the best in the country, along with 55 affiliate members (colleges, universities, summer programs, foundations, and corporations) located in 32 states, that share the goals of transforming mathematics, science, and technology education. To learn more about NCSSS, visit www.ncsss.org.
