Our Interim Superintendent
BONITA R. COLEMAN, Ph.D.
Dr. Bonita R. Coleman is an accomplished educational executive with more than three decades of experience leading complex K–12 systems at the local, state, and national levels. A former superintendent, deputy superintendent, state education executive, teacher, university professor, and executive coach, she brings a rare combination of instructional expertise, operational leadership, strategic execution, and organizational change management to school district leadership.
Dr. Coleman served for ten years as Superintendent of the Ocean Springs School District in Mississippi, where she led a high-performing school system serving approximately 5,700 students. Under her leadership, the district consistently maintained an A accountability rating beginning in 2013, and all district schools maintained A ratings beginning in 2018–2019. Ocean Springs also ranked as the top district in Mississippi for student proficiency and advanced performance on the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program.
Her superintendent tenure was characterized by a disciplined focus on student achievement, leadership development, organizational effectiveness, fiscal stewardship, safety, and continuous improvement. She established systems for district and school progress monitoring, led regular data reviews, developed key performance indicators across organizational functions, strengthened employee recruitment and retention, and worked to align budget decisions with academic and operational priorities.
Dr. Coleman's leadership experience extends well beyond one school district. As Deputy Superintendent of Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland, she helped lead a system of more than 123,000 students and 200 schools, with responsibilities spanning schools, curriculum and instruction, student services, facilities, information technology, charter schools, and other operational areas. She has also previously served as Deputy Superintendent of Jackson Public School District, providing leadership for schools and instructional divisions.
At the state level, Dr. Coleman served as Associate State Superintendent of Education for the Mississippi Department of Education. Her responsibilities included leading the following departments: curriculum and instruction, reading and early childhood education, educational technology, special education, and compulsory school attendance.
Currently, Dr. Coleman serves as an Executive Coach with Advanced Leadership Strategists, LLC, partnering with superintendents, district leaders, and executive teams on strategic planning, organizational improvement, leadership development, instructional leadership, and executive coaching. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Mississippi’s Principal Corps Program, teaching graduate courses in School Law and Equity and Cultural Leadership.
Dr. Coleman earned her Ph.D. from Jackson State University, a master's degree from the University of Mississippi, and a bachelor's degree from Tougaloo College. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship through the Broad Superintendents Academy.
“It is an honor to be selected to serve the students and families of Canton Public School District. I look forward to working with leaders and teachers to continue to assess CPS’s organizational needs and maintain a strong focus on teaching and learning and operational efficiency.”
