Beth Cross,
Executive Assistant
Phone: (662) 449.7123
Beth Cross was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She and her family moved to Southaven, MS in 1993. She has been with DeSoto County Schools since 2000.
Beth began at Southaven High School with various duties including CMS, MSIS, ADA and as the school secretary. She became Pupil Services Administrative Assistant in 2008 and Board Clerk in 2013.
Josh Sullivan,
Board Member
District 1 (MAP)
Phone: (662) 449.7123
Josh Sullivan is a graduate of Mississippi State University and Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking. After moving to DeSoto County in 1998, he has served as Southaven Rotary Club President, Horn Lake Lions Club President, as a Southaven Chamber of Commerce board member, and on the DeSoto County Economic Council.
Mr. Sullivan is the current secretary/treasurer for the Greater Memphis Medical Device Council and the Olive Branch Country Club. Mr. Sullivan is presently the Vice President-Administration for Arch Medical with facilities in Bartlett, TN, Lexington, TN, and Olive Branch, MS.
He is married to Mandi Carpenter Sullivan and has four children, including his stepson who is a student in the DeSoto County School District. He is a member at Compel Church.
Michele Henley,
Board Member
District 2 (MAP)
Phone: (662) 449.7123
Michele Henley graduated from Horn Lake High School, Northwest Community College and the University of Mississippi. She worked at Greenbrook Elementary School in Special Education and first grade.
She is President of Team Mobile Industrial Cleaning and is a member of Southaven Rotary. She has been married to Tommy Henley for 25 years. They have four daughters: Emma (21), Heather (19), Katherine (16), and Lexie (5) and are members of Lifepoint Church.
Jerald Wheeler,
Board Member
District 3 (MAP)
Phone: (662) 449.7123
Jerald Wheeler was with Southaven Police Department for 32 years; 24 years as a School Resource Officer in the Southaven area schools. During his time with Southaven Police Department, he taught Be a Winner Drug Prevention Program and was a mentor for the Southaven Police Department Explorer program.
In 2002, Wheeler led a committee to honor fallen officers and was selected as National Law Enforcement Officer of the month for October, 2014. Nine scholarships were established at Northwest Mississippi Community College and are awarded yearly to DeSoto County School students who plan to serve in public service. Since retiring in 2017, Wheeler is the mentor for the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Public Safety Cadets and VIPS.
Jerald is married to Gina Wheeler, a retired teacher from Walls Elementary School. They have two daughters, Lacey and Holly, who graduated from DeSoto County Schools. The Wheelers have seven grandchildren who keep them very active, and they are members of LaBelle Haven Baptist Church.
Shelia Riley,
Board Member
District 4 (MAP)
Phone: (662) 449.7123
Shelia Riley has 26 years of experience in the DeSoto County School District. She served at Hernando Middle School as a Title 1 Instructional Assistant in reading and math for 7th/8th grades. Mrs. Riley continued her employment with DeSoto County Schools at the Board of Education. She worked in Personnel and Professional Development.
Mrs. Riley assisted in the development of the Continuing Educational Program for DCS teachers. She is a retired member of the Mississippi Association of Educational Office Professionals and a "Who's Who Historical Society Inductee for Achievements in Professional Management." Mrs. Riley graduated from Hernando High School, attended Northwest Mississippi Community College and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.
Mrs. Riley has been married to Marvin for 48 years. She and Marvin have two sons, 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Shelia and Marvin attend Trinity Baptist Church in Eudora, where Mrs. Riley is the Sunday School Secretary.
Charles Barton,
Board Chairperson
District 5 (MAP)
Phone: (662) 449.7123
Charles Barton has over 30 years experience as a teacher, coach and administrator at the Elementary, Secondary and College levels.