Vicksburg, Mississippi – Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. has been invited to participate in the Hunt Institute’s Early Learning National Fellows (ELN) program. This prestigious, invitation-only program is designed to support bipartisan, locally elected leaders who are committed to establishing their community as a national leader in early childhood education.
A national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, founded in 2001 by former four-term North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt, the Hunt Institute brings together people and resources to inspire and inform elected officials and policymakers on critical issues in education, and to develop visionary leaders ready to take strategic action to improve education outcomes and student success.
Mayor Flaggs is honored to be one of only three mayors from Mississippi selected to be part of this inaugural group. Mayor Flaggs will represent Mississippi alongside two other notable mayors from the state, Mayor Leonard Gaskin of Columbus and Mayor Andrew Gyrich of Biloxi. The ELN program provides a unique opportunity for local leaders to network with peers and experts from across the nation to share strategies and insights to strengthen early childhood education.
“I am truly honored to have been invited to participate in this program and excited to represent our city and the great state of Mississippi alongside the other Mayors,” said Mayor Flaggs. “Early childhood education is the foundation of our future, and investing in it means investing in the success of our children and our community. This program will provide us with valuable resources and connections that will help us advance our efforts in Vicksburg.”
As part of the fellowship, Mayor Flaggs will participate in two virtual sessions and attend an in-person pre-conference session of the Early Childhood Leadership Summit in Las Vegas this September. All expenses for the program, including travel, will be covered by the Hunt Institute, allowing Mayor Flaggs to focus on gaining insights and building new partnerships.
“The early childhood education landscape can be complicated, especially at the local level, and we are pleased to see Mayor Flaggs committed his time to this area,” said Dr. Javaid Siddiqui, president and CEO of the Hunt Institute. “Giving policymakers access to research and national experts is a vital step in building a stronger early childhood education system.”
About the Hunt Institute
The Hunt Institute, an affiliate of Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy, is a recognized leader in the public education transformation movement. Since its founding in 2001, the Institute has brought together talent and resources to help build and develop visionary leadership and implement strategic actions to improve education outcomes and student success by drawing on expertise from a national network of partners.
For more information, visit http://www.hunt-institute.org/.
For further inquiries or additional information, please contact Mayor George Flaggs Jr. at 601-942-0492.
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