As a “children's first” school leader, Mr. Ike Haynes currently serves as Superintendent of Schools for Jefferson Davis County School District. He is a veteran educator. He has been a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. Mr. Haynes is a member of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), Mississippi Association of School Superintendents (MASS), National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE), Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and a recipient of the John A. Peeples award for his lifetime contributions to the field of education.

Upon his return to Jefferson Davis County School District in 2021, Superintendent Haynes initiated the Jaguar Way Culture, which calls upon everyone in the district to have positive attitudes, high expectations and to be held accountable for doing an effective job.

Since 2021, Superintendent Haynes has led the charge in completing the district’s strategic plan, known as Jaguar Way 2027, which outlines the district’s goals and the roadmap for accomplishing these goals. During the initial post-COVID-19 era, he provided oversight of building renovation, prioritized staff and student health and safety, and kept the vision of advancing students’ learning opportunities.

Some of the accomplishments achieved in the Jefferson Davis County School District under Superintendent Haynes are:

• Achieving a district graduation rate of 90%;
• Leading a rural, high-poverty school district with three of four schools that have a B accountability rating
• Expanding dual enrollment opportunities for students through William Carey University and Alcorn State University
• Establishing Pre-Kindergarten through the state-sponsored Early Learning Collaborative
• Instituting a district-run Campus Police Department
• Opening the Jefferson Davis County Middle School
• Adding an Agricultural Education Program to the district’s Career and Technical School
• Hosting Weekly Jag TV programming
• Initiating a Jag Store to promote district pride and student entrepreneurship
• Securing the COP Grant to ensure student safety
• Employing a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Director to close student achievement gaps
• Maintaining a focus on Dyslexia to improve student literacy
• Integrating a Performing Arts Program
• Upgrading the District’s Web Site, and
• Renovating J. E. Johnson and all school cafeterias

As Jefferson Davis County School District superintendent, Mr. Haynes believes that the key to establishing Jefferson Davis County School District as a consistent, high-performing district is having all constituents fully embrace the “Jaguar Way.” As he enters the third year of his return to Jefferson Davis County School District, Superintendent Haynes is actively looking for and highlighting JAGUAR EXCELLENCE “JAGELLENCE” because he envisions Jefferson Davis County District’s schools, administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents, and the community-at-large as an elite school system in every aspect of education and life.