Mississippi’s schools are going through an amazing transformation right now, and we’ve got Gov. Phil Bryant to thank for the progress.

His emphasis on early childhood literacy is spot-on. The Third Grade Reading Gate is working — 92 percent of kids passed the recent reading test, a huge improvement over the number that passed at the beginning of the year. Studies show that if children can read at grade level when in third grade, they will have greater success throughout school and are less likely to drop out.

A $100 million teacher pay raise, the second-largest in state history, really tells us Gov. Bryant values what our teachers do for Mississippi children. This is but one example of the amazing progress being made. I’m voting for Gov. Phil Bryant to ensure our schools continue to move in this positive direction.

Karen Elam

Oxford