Bentz Named New Harrison County School District Superintendent

(May 6,  2024)—An educator who was ‘born and raised’ in the Harrison County School District will soon take over as the district’s top administrator. During Monday night’s meeting, Harrison County School Board members announced that they have selected William Bentz to be the district's next superintendent.
 
“First of all, I want to thank God. I want to thank my family and extend my gratitude to all the school board members for giving me their support and putting me in this prestigious position in the district. It really is an honor,” said Bentz.
 
Bentz has been the principal of West Wortham Elementary & Middle School for the last two years. Before that, he served as the principal of Lyman Elementary, and he was the assistant principal at Lizana Elementary from 2018-2021. Bentz also taught classes at Harrison Central High and served as a GED coordinator and assistant athletic director in Long Beach. He has a total of 14 years of experience in education as a teacher, coach, and administrator and has worked at all levels of education from elementary, middle, and high school.
 
“This is a special place to me. I’m a product of the Harrison County School District. I’m a second-generation coach, teacher, and administrator, and I’ve always led with accountability, trust, and unity as a team in order to build a foundation for our children and our students and to get them to walk across that stage,” said Bentz.
 
Bentz has also served as a graduate assistant instructor at the University of Southern Mississippi. His educational experiences have afforded him the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of people to meet the common goal of putting students' well-being and academic success first. Bentz believes all students can learn in a safe, positive learning environment, and with a committed educational team, supportive family, and encouraging community.
 
“We’re going to have them ready for college. We’re going to have them ready for a career, but we’ve got to have them ready for life. I think it takes a village to do that. The announcement is special; it’s great! But it’s one piece of the puzzle. Education is a really big puzzle, and the challenge is to piece that together to make the best decisions for children,” said Bentz.
 
Bentz is a Harrison Central High graduate. He holds a Specialist in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University and a Bachelor's Degree and Master of Science from the University of Southern Mississippi. His wife, Sarah, is a teacher in Long Beach, and they have two children, William and Isabella.
 
“I see a lot of leaders in our district that I look up to and respect, and I can’t wait to work with them and the parents, community members, and stakeholders to work off of what’s already established in the Harrison County School District. I truly believe we’re the best in the state and we’re going to show that by working together. So, I do appreciate you all being here tonight, and I look forward to getting to work,” said Bentz.
 
Bentz will officially take over the helm of the Harrison County School District on July 1. He will become the seventh superintendent since the district was created in 1957. Bentz replaces Mr. Mitchell King, who will be retiring at the end of June after a 54-year career in the district.
 
“I have a strong faith and family support, as well as peer support in the district, so I’m just very blessed and honored to be able to lead the district,” said Bentz. “I want to establish Harrison County as the number one school district in the state. I believe we can have the highest graduation rates. I believe we can build a stronger foundation for K-8 to push our students to their maximum potential. I feel there are a lot of things to come for our district, and it’s going to start with a team. It’s not just me.”

We would like to congratulate Mr. Bentz as he prepares to take on his new leadership role in the Harrison County School District!
   
Watch the WXXV story here: Harrison County School District names new superintendent - WXXV News 25 (wxxv25.com)
 
Watch the WLOX story here: Harrison County School District names William Bentz as next superintendent (wlox.com)
 
Watch the SuperTalk Mississippi story here: William Bentz tabbed as new superintendent of Harrison County School District - SuperTalk Mississippi