This week, I had the pleasure of covering the story about the chance meeting between Bowmar Elementary student Ella Walker and local resident Penny Varner.

Ella, a third grader, was participating in the annual Leadership Day at her school, which is a part of the Leader in Me Program. On this particular day, the school opens its doors to the community to let people see first-hand what the innovative program offers.

For the event, students were asked to dress as famous Mississippians, and Ella chose Capt. Viola Sanders, who happens to be Varner’s aunt.

Varner had seen Ella’s picture in The Vicksburg Post last week after the Leadership Day had occurred and was elated, to say the least, that this young girl had decided to portray Sanders, who was an American naval officer who rose to the highest rank a woman could attain in the U.S. Navy in the mid 1960’s.

This week, the school duplicated the program for parents of the students, and Varner attended the program.

The day was amazing for both Varner and Ella, but it was also incredible for me.

Not only did I have the privilege of witnessing the special moment that no doubt will always be a beautiful memory for both Varner and Ella, I also had the opportunity to attend the Leadership Day.

Bowmar already holds a special place in my heart because all four of my children were students at the school, but to see how the Leader In Me Program has expounded on an already remarkable environment was exciting.

The program, which was led entirely by the students, blew me away, and the young man who sang Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” was so talented. I think we will be hearing him on the radio one day.

Following the stage presentation, three of the students, including Ella, gave us a tour of the school. All were self-confident, informative and proud to be showing their school.

I want to thank all of those who have supported the Leader In Me initiative. This is a positive effort in making education in Vicksburg great, but we cannot stop there.

It is essential that all of us begin to realize if we do not have a strong education system in our city, we will never grow. Those vans that are transporting workers to and from Vicksburg to Clinton and the surrounding Jackson area will only increase.

We cannot let this continue to happen. We all, especially parents, have to step up to the plate and become involved. Education is so much bigger than schoolteachers and principals. These individuals cannot bear the burden alone. It is going to take the effort of the whole community to make our schools great.

And for those of you who think the school system does not matter because you do not have a school age child, think again.

We will never be able to recruit businesses and families here if there is not a strong school system in place. House values will drop, and local businesses will suffer.

This is the last year I will have a child in the Vicksburg-Warren County school district, but I have two grandsons living here in town. By golly, I want them to have access to best education a child deserves.

All our children deserve that. So parents, we are the first step. Get involved. Volunteer to help with school functions. Carve out the time to help your child with his or her homework. Do not think this is not your job. It is.

Let’s begin showing the rest of the state Vicksburg is a community that has much to offer. Let’s be leaders.