For Jason Harris, an anonymous nomination led to an opportunity to grow and expand as Columbia’s school superintendent.
He received an academic scholarship to the Thompson Executive Leadership Institute Superintendent’s Academy. He is only one of 25 superintendents chosen. Most chosen are from Texas, but a few from other parts of the country were also invited to attend.
“I am looking forward to forming other relationships with other superintendents across the South. This is like a giant think tank,” Harris said. “When you really look at it, most school districts have the same problems just on different sizes.”
Harris, who became Columbia’s superintendent in 2017 after previously serving as principal at Tupelo High School, said he is not 100 percent sure who nominated him, but one day he received a phone call from the institute inviting him to attend.
Selection into the program is by nomination only, and the Texas-based institute has strict criteria that need to be met including:
- Be employed and currently serving as a superintendent of schools;
- Have at least two years of experience as a school superintendent;
- Be seen as a leader by his colleagues;
- Have demonstrated that he is a student of his profession;
- Have the support of his school board.
The program involves training and activities during the school year, including five trips to Austin,Texas, a trip to New York City and one to San Antonio, Texas. The first trip to Austin will takes place Sept. 12 through Sept. 14.
“I am really excited about the trip to New York City,” Harris said. “We get to go into the inner city schools that are exceeding and learning how they do it. I heard it is a real eye-opening experience.”
“It is an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. When you get to the executive level, the chances to go to professional development is smaller,” the third-year superintendent said.
The superintendents will discuss ways to better enhance the educational program, learn new and different ways of improving, learn new strategies for allocating time for structured growth and develop a new network of superintendents each with a goal of bettering their school districts.
In addition to Harris attending, there is a Visioning Conference the weekend of Feb. 21 through Feb. 23 in San Antonio that the entire school board has been invited to attend.
“As a superintendent, if you want to have a successful school system you have to have a great school board,” he said. “One of the things I am looking forward to new strategies and ways to keep improving.”
