At the Oxford School District Board of Trustees meeting in May, Dr. Harry Rayburn was named this year’s Oxford School District Citizen of the Year. 

Dr. Harry Rayburn, a local dentist, said he is passionate about public school education and the quality of Oxford schools. 

“We definitely try to be involved in the Oxford School District,” said Rayburn, who has a son and daughter in OSD. “My parents were both public high school teachers here in Mississippi. For sure, the key to community growth is to have a strong public school.”

The Citizen of the Year award is given once a year by the Oxford School District to recognize a community member who contributes to the success of schools and to the betterment of students. 

“It’s an honor and a privilege to get the award,” Rayburn said. “More importantly, I just want to reflect back on all the teachers and all the administration that put in the time and effort to make sure that we are at a nice level and a good level. But we’re also committed to get better and strive to be better.”

Rayburn, alongside his wife, led this year’s Teacher of the Year luncheon by soliciting support from local businesses to recognize teachers and their families. As part of the recognition, the OSD Teacher of The Year received $1,000 in cash, while Teachers of the Year from each school received $500 in cash.

“I think the fundamental part of a great school district is a great teacher in the classroom,” Rayburn said. “Of course, I may be biased because my parents were school teachers. But in my mind, if you have a good teacher in the classroom a lot of other things fall into place.”

He also served on the district’s Strategic Planning Committee, and also helped translate Spanish for children and families at meal pickup locations during the COVID-19 school closure.