NATCHEZ — Natchez-Adams School District Superintendent Frederick Hill is hitting the books.

Hill was selected by the Mississippi Department of Education to participate in the state’s first Superintendents’ Academy, an advanced leadership-training program meant to assist school district leaders in their efforts to improve education outcomes.

Joining 19 superintendents from across the state, Hill will be exposed to the latest technology for enhancing student learning and be able to participate in advance leadership training.

The academy has been a top priority of the MDE and the Mississippi Board of Education for some time, said Mike Kent, director of the academy.

“The knowledge superintendents glean from the academy is immediately applicable to any district, regardless of size or location,” Kent said.

Bob Thompson, director for the Center of Executive Leadership at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, is the lead faculty member for the academy.

Through learning teaching techniques from Thompson and other state superintendents, Hill said he hopes to improve the Natchez-Adams School District.

“We will have the opportunity to collaborate with other superintendents from throughout the state of Mississippi, and share resources on what it takes to improve the schools,” Hill said. “There may be some things others are doing that are working, and we want to try to implement those things as much as we can.”

And with Common Core Standards now implemented in all Mississippi schools, Hill said it’s a great time to meet with other superintendents to discuss progress with the standards.

“The good thing about where we are is that we all are going through Common Core, and we are all struggling with that,” Hill said.  “And we’re trying to get our schools on the level where we’re ready to embrace those standards.”

Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, said she looks forward to the positive impact the academy will have on keeping students at the center of education.

“The MDE is proud to offer these professional growth opportunities to our district leaders, and we hope to provide additional training for school leaders in the future,” she said.

The next three academy sessions will be hosted March 20 through 22, April 30 through May 2 and June 11 through 13. All sessions are hosted at the Natchez Grand Hotel.

Funding for the academy comes from appropriated funds by the state legislature totaling $500,000. Participation in the academy is by invitation only.