Amanda Knight

Amanda Knight was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1976. In 1988 her family moved to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and she has been a Jackson County resident since then.  Amanda graduated with highest honors from Ocean Springs High School in 1994. Upon her graduation from high school, Amanda accepted an academic scholarship to The University of South Alabama. While Amanda was a college student, she was a member of Chi Omega sorority where she served in several leadership roles including treasurer. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in education in 1998. 

Amanda began teaching at East Central Upper Elementary (ECUE) in the fall of 1998 where she has spent her entire career shaping and molding young minds. Amanda taught Fourth grade before moving into special education at ECUE. While at ECUE, Amanda has served as grade chair, member of the district curriculum committee, professional development coordinator, and a member of the Jackson County School District leadership team. While teaching full time, Amanda earned her Master’s degree in Education in 2007 from William Carey University. Amanda was selected by her peers as the Teacher of the Year for East Central Upper Elementary in 2018. Amanda has worked part time for financial advisor, George Cumbest, since 2010, and she plans to become a full time employee upon her retirement from teaching. 

Amanda is very active in her local community of Hurley. Amanda is a member of the Mississippi Songwriters Alliance where she organizes school outreach programs for songwriters to work with students to instill a love of writing music. Amanda is a board member for the South Mississippi Special Needs Organization (SNO). She organizes a summer camp for individuals with disabilities to experience music, art, and drama. SNO offers quarterly events for individuals with special needs including a Valentine’s Day Banquet, Halloween Party, Beautiful Me Pageant, Summer Camp, and Christmas Performance. Amanda is actively involved in planning and hosting these events.  She is a member of The Kiwanis of East Central where she serves as secretary. Amanda is always involved in planning class reunions for the OSHS Class of 1994. 

She loves spending time with her family and friends more than anything. Amanda is engaged to George Cumbest. She is very proud of her stepson, Joseph Cumbest, an independent insurance agent for Advanced Insurance Solutions in Ocean Springs. Amanda loves playing with her two four legged children, Gibson and Cash. Amanda is a proud cancer survivor, and she has a desire to reach out and help others in their fight against cancer. You can hear her yelling “Who Dat!” on Sunday afternoons.