About Us The Mississippi First team is a group of dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to promote the mission of Mississippi First.
Our Focus Areas At Mississippi First, we lead change by advancing ideas through the policy continuum. We are a leading voice for high-quality early education, high-quality public charter schools, access to highly effective teachers and leaders, and creating a future for public schools.
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Our Work Mississippi First is a policy organization. We work closely with elected officials to pass legislation that will increase educational excellence for kids.
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Pheron Russell Director of Special Projects

Pheron, a Mississippi native, got to experience both rural and urban education as a student. After high school, she attended the historical, Wiley University in Marshall, Texas, earning her Bachelor’s in English. Pheron then became a Teach For America corps member, teaching high school English in the Arkansas Delta. Since then, Pheron has taught in Mississippi’s first charter school as part of the founding team, teaching 5th grade Literacy. She has also served the students of Copiah and Hinds County as an English Language Arts teacher. She served as a Teach For America staff member for the Greater Delta Region, where she coached first and second year corps members based in Jackson, Mississippi. Pheron holds a Masters of Education from Belhaven University with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Specialists in Administration and Supervision from Delta State University.