Jumpstart Test Prep taps Mississippi superintendent David Martin as next CEO

Jumpstart Test Prep said Mississippi educator David Martin will become CEO on July 1, 2027, after finishing the school year as superintendent in Lincoln County. The move comes as the company looks to expand nationally while leaning on Martin’s experience leading schools and his firsthand use of Jumpstart programs.

Why it matters: - Jumpstart Test Prep is bringing in a school-system leader with direct experience using its products, signaling a push to scale sales and adoption without losing focus on classroom results. - The appointment also ties the company’s next phase of growth to a superintendent who has led academic gains in Mississippi and understands district-level buying decisions.

What happened: - Jumpstart Test Prep named David Martin as its next chief executive officer, effective July 1, 2027. - Martin currently serves as superintendent of the Lincoln County School District in Mississippi. - Martin will complete the current school year and step down as superintendent on June 30, 2027. - Sha Walker, co-founder and president of Jumpstart Test Prep, will remain in that role and work alongside Martin.

The details: - Martin has more than 24 years of experience in public education. - Since becoming superintendent in 2020, Martin has led Lincoln County to its first-ever A accountability rating from the Mississippi Department of Education for 2022–2023. - Lincoln County kept that A rating for three straight years. - During 2023–2024, all four district schools earned ratings of B or higher. - Before becoming superintendent, Martin spent eight years as principal of Brookhaven High School. - Brookhaven High School’s graduation rate rose from 61.6% to 79.5% during his tenure. - Martin also expanded Advanced Placement, dual-credit and honors offerings at Brookhaven High School. - As superintendent, Martin oversaw more than $18 million in capital improvements. - Martin also served as chairman of the Mississippi Department of Education’s Licensure Commission.

Between the lines: - Walker said Martin brings decades of firsthand experience leading schools, improving student outcomes and understanding educator challenges. - Martin said he was drawn to Jumpstart after seeing the programs used in Lincoln County schools and watching student performance improve. - Martin cited strong teacher feedback and measurable gains in ACT scores, ACT WorkKeys credential attainment and Algebra I and English II end-of-course results. - Those results also affected measures used in Mississippi’s school accountability system. - Jumpstart said independent third-party research has found its instructional approach improves performance on high-stakes assessments. - The company also said Martin’s appointment supports national expansion while preserving instructional effectiveness.

What's next: - Martin will lead Jumpstart’s daily operations, strategic direction, business development and national expansion after taking over in July 2027. - Walker said the company will continue to expand its reach and impact across the country. - Jumpstart said it has served more than 100,000 students and nearly 500 schools across 10 states. - The company plans to keep building around online ACT, ACT WorkKeys and end-of-course prep products. - More information - More information - More information

The bottom line: - Jumpstart is betting that a veteran superintendent with proven district results can help turn a test-prep brand into a broader national education business.