Executive Board

Immediate Past President

Michelle McClain

Michelle McClain is currently the Behavior Intervention Specialist for Intervention Services in the Office of Elementary Education and Reading at the MS Department of Education. Prior to this school year, she served as Behavior Support Specialist at Pearl Public School District for Special Services grades K-8. In that position, Michelle developed Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans, provided training to faculty, staff, and parents on implementation of the BIP, and provided services and supports to students with an Individualized Education Plan. Michelle’s tasks also included providing behavioral supports to students with sensory regulation/stimulation needs, for Social Emotional Learning Skills, and supports for students in alternative school placement. For the 20/21 school year, she provided academic services virtually to K-12th grade self-contained students. Michelle spent five years as a self-contained special education teacher at Upper Elementary. She then taught the alternative school/behavior classroom students K-12 for Pearl Public School District. Michelle presented in one of the concurrent sessions at the 2019 CEC Team Up to Build Up Fall Conference in Hattiesburg. Michelle received her Education Specialist Degree in Emotional Behavioral Disorder from William Carey University in November 2019, Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Delta State University in 2010, and Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2005. Working with autistic students and students with an Emotional Behavioral Disorder has become her passion for teaching. She believes that while not all students will take that adventure to college; it is her hope with the knowledge she gives them, they will be successful in life.

Allison “Paige” Pigott Brown

Ms. Pigott is a 1997 graduate from Mississippi State University and a 2018 graduate with a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from William Carey University. Ms. Pigott has a total of 23 years experience in special education which includes experience in cross-categorical disabilities and services throughout the continuum of placement options in urban and rural settings at the local and state levels. Some career highlights include working for the Mississippi Department of Education in the Office of Special Education (OSE) as a compliance monitor and as an Instructional Support Specialist. While working as an Instructional Support Specialist, Ms. Pigott conducted training on various special education topics, assisted with an Alternate Diploma rollout, and the development of the MS-Alternate Academic Achievement Standards. In addition, Ms. Pigott has served as a school district Special Services Director for six years. She served as a Special Education Director and MSIS primary for the MS Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in Jackson, MS and is currently the Special Services Director for the North Pike School District located in Summit, MS. At North Pike Ms. Pigott is the administrator in charge of Special Education and Gifted programing, Section 504, students living in foster care, and serves as the district’s MSIS secondary. Ms. Pigott is also the owner of AP Educational Consulting, LLC. and AP Educational Solutions LLC. These two companies focus on professional learning needs of all educators, however most consulting work focuses on educators and related service providers serving students with significant cognitive disabilities, autism, and/or behavior disorders. Ms. Pigott served as the Vice President of the Mississippi Council for Exceptional Children for 2022-2023 is the conference planner for the 2024 MS CEC conference.

Curtis Wicker

Curtis Wicker serves as the Director of Special Education for the Simpson County School District. He received his Masters and Specialist degree in School Psychology from Mississippi State University, and his Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Mississippi. Additionally, he completed his 12-month internship in School Psychology in the Muskogee County School District in Columbus, GA.

Curtis began his educational career serving as the School Psychologist for the Pass Christian School District. Since then, he has served in the roles of Child Find and Behavior Support Coordinator, Assistant Principal, and Assistant Director of Special Education. He has also provided consultative support to multiple schools in Tennessee in the areas of disproportionality, appropriate identification, and data analysis.

Lori Wilcher, Ph.D., NCC, NCSC

Driven by a love for children and a life-long desire to serve others, Dr. Wilcher started her journey in the field of education in 2003 as a PK-12 school counselor. Throughout her career, she has worn many hats, including teacher, school counselor, interventionist, behavior specialist, assistant principal, and principal. Currently, she serves as the Director of Federal Programs, Special Education, and Gifted at Union Public School District. Her commitment to advocating for children remains the driving force behind every decision she makes in her career.

Dr. Wilcher also serves as a university supervisor for student interns at Mississippi State University and teaches adjunct for Belhaven University ensuring she is part of the continued success in education throughout Mississippi and that every student has access to a great education and a successful career path.

Some of her very best career days were during her time as principal at Union Elementary (2018-2022) where she was named UPSD Administrator of the Year in 2021. However, Dr. Wilcher holds firm that the greatest accolade she has ever received came in the form of a note from a parent, thanking her for caring for her child during a difficult time. “The trust of a parent with their most important treasure is the greatest accolade I could ever receive,” Dr. Wilcher said, underscoring her deep commitment to her students and the primary reason for moving to her current position. She has served as the president of the Mississippi School Counseling Association (2010-2011) and served on the Mississippi Counselor Association Ethics Committee (2009-2018). She is also currently serving a five-year term on the Mississippi Special Education Advisory Panel (2023-2027). Dr. WIlcher is a member of Mississippi Professional Educators (MPE) and the Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE).  

Dr. Wilcher has an associate in science from East Central Community College where she was named in the 2024 Alumna of the year, a bachelor’s in public relations from Mississippi College, Master’s in Counselor Education from Mississippi State University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from The University of Southern Mississippi. She completed the Mississippi School Board Association’s Prospective Superintendent Leadership Academy in 2021.

Dr. Wilcher has been married to Jimmy for 27 years.  They reside in Union and have 6 children.  She is an active member of FBC Union where she serves as a teacher for the 2- and 3-year-old Sunday School class and leads Bible Drills.  She serves as a Key Spouse Volunteer for Key Field Air National Guard Base.

Carol Ann Franklin

Carol Ann Franklin has been teaching the Life Skills special education class at Clinton Junior High for 41 years. She is very passionate about helping and encouraging low functioning students to work at their greatest potential. She received Teacher of the Year at Clinton Junior High in the school years 2003, 2014, and 2021.  She also was recognized as the 2023 Mississippi Council for Exceptional Children’s Teacher of the Year.

Carol Ann received her undergraduate degree in special education from Mississippi State University in 1975 and her master’s degree in special education in 1978. She earned her National Board Certification in Exceptional Needs in 2000. Carol Ann has been a member of the Council for Exceptional Children for many years and has served on the Mississippi Council for Exceptional Children’s board as treasurer since 2008.

Carol Ann is married to Johnny Franklin. They have lived in Bolton, MS since 1995. They have five daughters and seven grandchildren. She is an avid football fan. She especially loves Mississippi State and the Dallas Cowboys. She loves to take trips to the beach during breaks from school. She is a member of Memorial United Methodist church in Bolton, MS where she serves as the Sunday School director and does the children’s sermon each Sunday.

Noleen Clark, Ed.D.

Dr. Noleen Clark serves as the Director of Integrated Monitoring Systems for the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), Office of Special Education (OSE). Dr. Clark has 20 years of experience in education. Her various school/district roles included substitute teacher, secretary, district administrative assistant, afterschool programs teacher, Upward Bound mathematics teacher, and Multidisciplinary Evaluation Teams member. As an inclusion, tutorial, self-contained, and lead special education teacher, she provided services to students, support to parents, and guidance to peer educators. Like her current role, Dr. Clark provided guidance, professional development, technical assistance, and coaching support to educators throughout the state in her previous MDE roles of IDEA dispute resolution investigator, school improvement programs team leader, and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Specialist for the University of Mississippi and the MDE. In addition to the duties of her respective MDE roles, she also served on and chaired many multipurpose committees and teams in the areas of professional development, family engagement, support, monitoring, district funding, etc. In her spare time, she gets to be the wonderful mother to two beautiful teenage boys! Although she has a very special connection to students with disabilities, Dr. Clark is very passionate about continuing education and research to effectively provide support, guidance, and professional development to educators and administrators throughout the state for the overall success of Every and All of our Mississippi scholars!

Bobby Richardson

Bobby L. Richardson serves as the Assistant Director of Special Education for the Pearl Public School District. With a career spanning over two decades, he brings a wealth of experience in educational administration and advocacy for children and youth. Before his current role, Mr. Richardson held the position of Director of IDEA Fiscal Support and Special Projects within the Mississippi Department of Education's Office of Special Education. His diverse professional background includes roles as a general education teacher, special education teacher, and various administrative positions at the state department of education.

Mr. Richardson's teaching expertise covers a broad range of areas, including resource, inclusion, self-contained, and general education reading. He has also made significant contributions as a transition coordinator and General Education Development (GED) Options Coordinator, focusing on preparing at-risk high school students for the GED. At the district level, he has served as a teacher for incarcerated youth, homebound instructor, intervention specialist/district support team co-chair, and special education program coordinator.

Holding a master's degree in education leadership and administration, Mr. Richardson is known for his leadership marked by passion and integrity. He actively participates in several professional organizations, including the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), serving as the Children and Youth Action Network (CAN) Coordinator for Mississippi. He is also actively involved in the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT), and Mississippi Professional Educators (MPE).

Debbie Hubbert

Mrs. Hubbert earned her Master of Education from Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA. She received certifications in numerous areas of Special Education in the state of Georgia, Ohio, and Mississippi. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. As a Special Education teacher, she has proven her skills in the classroom as a valuable instructor; her success is evident in the repeated progress she accomplishes in working with children of various rulings.