Next week, Vicksburg will play host to one of the Leader in Me Symposiums being organized and held around the country and in Canada.

The symposiums are designed to share ideas with other administrators, superintendents and other education leaders about the benefit and successes of the Leader in Me initiative. Attendees will also be challenged, as the event’s website says, “develop new skills and principle-centered effectiveness with 7 Habits 4.0 training.”

But while this is an opportunity for educators a chance to come together to learn more about the Franklin Covey-based curriculum, it is also an opportunity for the Vicksburg-Warren School District to show off. It is an opportunity for the district and its leaders, as well as economic leaders and the Vicksburg Warren County Chamber of Commerce, to show want kind of impact this program, this public-private partnership, can really do in a community.

In the past few years, businesses and individuals, through the chamber, has raised more than $400,000 to get this important initiative started in some of our schools.

And the number of schools coming on board and adopting the principles of this program is growing.

While Bovina and Bowmar are among the leaders in Leader in Me education, Dana Road, Redwood and Beechwood are closing in and other schools, including Sherman Avenue, are in the process of training and rolling out the program.

This symposium, this event in Vicksburg, is a chance to show what strong, effective leadership — both at the system level and in the community — can be, when there is a singular goal of improving education.

“It gives us great pride to be the example for Mississippi by having the only two Lighthouse Schools in our state. As always, our students will amaze our guests with their direction and grasp of Stephen Covey’s ‘Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders,’” Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent Chad Shealy said.  “We look forward to hosting many future events in this wonderful Red Carpet City.”