CEO Leadership Academy

Today school administrators from across Mississippi met in a round table discussion to establish how to enhance school culture and the growth of Mississippi’s K-12 administrators.

Dr. Chuck Benigno, Executive Director of PREPS.

Collaborating to Empower others also known as "CEO" is a Leadership Academy designed for administrations to come together and discuss how to better their schools and leadership. School administrators from across Mississippi gathered today at the MAX to have that conversation.

“One of the things about the CEO Leadership Academy is having leaders from all over the state, they can talk about different issues. There is probably nothing more important than cultivating the next generation of school leaders”, said Dr. Chuck Benigno, executive director of PREPS. “Principles and administrators throughout Mississippi have a tremendous challenge whether it be safety issues as severe as school shootings that we have seen to challenges of the social-emotional needs of our teachers and our students”

Dr. John-Mark Cain was honored as the superintendent of the year, and currently serves as the superintendent for Lauderdale County School District was one of the guest speakers at the conference.

“You have to surround yourself with great people, that’s the key to any organization’s success. Hire great people, continue to build capacity, have a common goal, and continue to work for it”, said Mark Cain. “No matter what obstacles come your way, if you keep the goal in mind and keep going you can reach success.”

Thirty-seven administrators attended the academy. Assistant Principal Jonathan Beasley from Delisle Elementary on the Gulf Coast shared his experience of the CEO.

“Administrators across the state, we’re dealing with the same types of environmental things, educational things, curriculum things, all across the district and all across the state”, says Jonathan. “It brings me some peace to know that from the Gulf Coast to north Mississippi that I have a group of like educators that are dealing with the same types of things that I am dealing with”

The administrators will meet again in February of next year to conclude with a hybrid conference.