MEET DR. BONITA COLEMAN

Superintendent of Ocean Springs School District

Dr. Bonita Coleman was appointed superintendent of the Ocean Springs School District in July of 2012 and has served the Ocean Springs community for over 10 years. Prior to joining Greyhound Nation, Dr. Coleman served as deputy superintendent of Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland, where she helped lead the nation's 18th largest school district.

Under Dr. Coleman's leadership, the Ocean Springs School District has maintained an A rating for nine consecutive years, has been ranked #2 in the state of Mississippi for accountability and high performance, and has been recognized world-wide for excellence in academics, arts, and athletics.

With more than 25 years in public education, she has served as a K-12 teacher and a visiting professor and scholar at a number of universities. Dr. Coleman also served several years as the associate state superintendent for academics for the Mississippi Department of Education. She is a member of the State Superintendent of Education’s Superintendents Advisory Council, the Mississippi Superintendents Collaborative, and Mississippi Diverse and Learner Ready Council.

A native Mississippian, Dr. Coleman graduated from Tougaloo College, earned a master's degree from the University of Mississippi, and a Ph.D. in educational administration from Jackson State University. She is also a graduate of the Broad Superintendent's Academy. Her son, Chandler, is a 2016 graduate of Ocean Springs School District, a 2020 graduate of the University of South Alabama's nursing program, and works in healthcare in the Houston area.