"Healthy communities with a robust economy have strong public schools at their core. Public education consists of partnerships between the home, community and state for sustained investments in the future of our ability to educate the future workforce. Many communities have taxed themselves to the maximum and have been shortchanged by the state’s investment in public schools. We deserve better from state leadership."

~ CATHY GRACE

ABOUT THE CANDIDATE

Originally from West Memphis, Arkansas, Cathy Grace received a Bachelor of Science in

education from the University of Arkansas, a Master of Science in education from Arkansas

State University and a doctorate in education from the University of Mississippi.

A passionate advocate for early childhood learning, Grace is the co-director of the Graduate

Center for the Study of Early Learning at the University of Mississippi, as well as the early

childhood coordinator for the North Mississippi Education Consortium. She was the founding director of The Early Childhood Institute at Mississippi State University, a position she held for 13 years, and was also the founding director of The Family Resource Center (now Families First) in Tupelo.

A former president of the Mississippi Early Childhood Association, Grace currently serves as a member of the administrative board of First United Methodist Church in Tupelo; a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children; a member of Indivisibles of Northeast Mississippi, an advocacy group to support children and families; and an advisor for the National League of Cities Early Childhood Initiative.

She and her husband, Charles, have been married for 40 years and have two children and two grandchildren.

ABOUT HOUSE DISTRICT 17

Counties represented: Lee

School Districts represented: Lee County School District, Tupelo School District

Key Election Date: November 5, 2019, General

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