by Ezabelle Janssen, Staff Writer

LONG BEACH (GG) — On Tuesday, February 3rd, during the City of Long Beach’s Board of Aldermen meeting, Sandi Sawyer Dulaney was officially reappointed as President of the Long Beach School Board, a role that fits her like a well-worn maroon letterman jacket stitched with decades of local pride.

“It feels great to be reappointed, and I’m very thankful,” Dulaney said. “We had some great candidates this time, so I truly appreciate the confidence they placed in me.”

For Dulaney, the position is less a title and more a continuation of a lifelong relationship with the Long Beach School District. A proud Bearcat, Dulaney and her children are Long Beach graduates. 

“I am very passionate about the Long Beach School District,” she said. “I’m just really excited to be able to remain on the board and help us move forward.” 

That forward motion has plenty to celebrate. Long Beach schools recently earned the distinction of being ranked number one in the state for the second time in four years, an achievement Dulaney credits to sustained effort and strong leadership. 

This success brings its own set of growing pains. As Long Beach continues to welcome new residents and new neighborhoods, the district faces the challenge of school realignment.

“The biggest issue is the increase in all the new homes in Long Beach, which is a great problem to have,” Dulaney said. “But we don’t want to have to keep redrawing school districts every year. This is a great plan the administrative team and Superintendent Dr. Talia Lock have put together.”

Beyond the school board, Dulaney’s roots run deep across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A fourth-generation real estate professional, she has worked in her family’s business since 1989. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and an active member of the National and Mississippi Associations of Realtors, as well as a past president of the Rotary Club of Gulfport. 

At home in Long Beach with her husband Tim and their five sons, Dulaney continues to wear many hats. For now, one remains firmly in place:  Leading the Long Beach School Board.

(Photo by Hunter Dawkins/The Gazebo Gazette via Associated Press)