Districts that are part of the East Mississippi Center for Educational Development met Thursday in Meridian to discuss the recent accountability ratings issued by the state and also legislation that is upcoming in the legislature next year.
The monthly meeting gives superintendents a chance to discuss issues and share ideas with their neighboring districts.
The EMCED includes 23 districts from Lowndes County to Clarke County to Rankin County. The EMCED wants to help the leaders of these districts continue to serve their students.
“Our primary goal is to provide good quality professional development within their school district. But also, we not only network with superintendents, we network with support staff within the districts,” said Don Brantley, executive director for EMCED.
While emphasis is placed on the students that these superintendents represent, other items are also discussed.
“A group of educators that sit down once a month and we share our best practices, what’s working in our school districts,” said Lauderdale County superintendent Randy Hodges. “And if there’s an area to be concerned about, we share that also. We’re very active in looking at the legislative agenda that’s coming up in January, because that means so much to the state of Mississippi and all of our school districts.”
The superintendents not only share how their districts are doing and what new legislation means for them, but also take something home to improve the education of their students.
“There’s a lot of knowledge within this group, a lot of experience, a lot of successful schools,” said Hodges. “And, you know, we’re all open to what’s working at another school district, and take it back to our district, and let our children take advantage of it.”
