Attala County native and Mississippi State University assistant professor Dr. Paula Tharp has been selected to present her research at the annual American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
The AERA is one of the largest gatherings of education researchers in the country. This year the organization received over 13,000 research submissions. Dr. Tharp’s project was among a select few chosen for presentation.
Her research paper, titled “Aligning an Approach to Principal Efficacy with School Improvement Urgency: A Design-Based Implementation Research Study,” focuses on strengthening school leadership and improving educational outcomes.
