Jacob Dykes

Dr. Jacob Dykes is the principal of Ocean Springs High School (OSHS) in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where he leads a school of nearly 2,000 students with a focus on developing the whole child through the arts, academics, and athletics. A lifelong educator and graduate of OSHS, Dr. Dykes has spent his career serving students and families in the Ocean Springs School District as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, elementary principal, and high school principal.

Dr. Dykes began his educational career as a science and agriculture teacher and football coach before moving into school administration. He served seven years as an assistant principal at OSHS, three years as principal of Pecan Park Elementary School, and returned to the high school as principal in 2024.

Under Dr. Dykes’ leadership, OSHS has continued to be recognized among Mississippi’s leading high schools. The school was named Mississippi’s inaugural Blue Ribbon School by the Mississippi Department of Education in 2025 and is ranked the #1 traditional high school in Mississippi by U.S. News & World Report as of 2026.

A strong advocate for public education and student opportunity, Dr. Dykes has served on the Mississippi Department of Education Accountability Task Force and numerous Ocean Springs School District committees focused on strategic planning, policy, school improvement, assessment, and leadership. He has also been involved with the Ocean Springs Educational Foundation and serves his community through youth athletics and other civic activities.