Governor's MAPE Partnership Excellence Award

Monique Gilmore Program Director, Lisa Barnes, Center Director, Tamara Gilmore, McComb Housing Authority parent and Center receptionist, Jeff Adams, Executive Director.

The McComb Housing Authority in partnership with the McComb School District received a Mississippi Association of Partners in Education (MAPE) Partnership Excellence award in honor of outstanding partnerships in elementary, middle school, high school, multi-level and school district categories. Governor Haley Barbour presented the award at a Luncheon in celebration of the Annual Governor's Awards and Partnership Excellence Awards on April 3, 2006. The theme for this year was "What Really Matters". Association leaders say they see the Governor's Awards and Partnership Excellence Awards as key components in their efforts to promote excellence and opportunity for children in Mississippi's public schools through community collaboration. A partnership formed with the McComb Housing Authority allowed the McComb School District to establish a Family Resource Center in the Housing Authority's "Jewel D. Rushing building. The building was named to honor Chairman Jewel D. Rushing for his service to the residents and children of the housing authority. The building will be utilized by the School District to provide services to students and their families which includes information and referral services, parenting classes, teen parent classes, homework help, teen empowerment classes, counseling, resource library, support groups, teen pregnancy prevention, reading club and computer literacy. A dedication ceremony for the Jewel D. Rushing building will be held May 8, 2006 at 10:30 a.m.