The Moore County school system and Superintendent Susan Purser are featured in the May/June issue of the national publication Education Executive.

The four-page spread, replete with color photos, is titled "Growing to Greatness," the school system's slogan and the phrase used by Purser to describe the "journey" on which it embarked this school year.

"You can't create a set of expectations without understanding what is expected of you in the first place," Purser said in the article, recalling a series of meetings she held throughout the community two years ago. "It was important to get everyone talking so we could find common ground to build a better school system for our students."

Following the development of the slogan, the board and administration developed a mission, vision and set of core beliefs, which formed the basis for the defining of four pathways - learning, culture, leadership and community. Rubrics were then created "clearly defining the specific elements and expectations of each."

The magazine article goes on to relate some examples of the innovation taking place to design engaging and relevant experiences for students along the four pathways. Leadership, for example, is exemplified in the article with stories about student-led conferences at one school and a student council for which students must apply and be interviewed.

Purser also addresses impacts from budget cuts in the article. However, she emphasizes the necessity of staying focused on the system's mission, vision and core beliefs when making the "tough" decisions.

"People think I have a tough job," she says. "It does come with its share of challenges, but it's also the best job in town. I get to witness the powerful things that are happening here every day and watch our students become leaders. That makes it all worth it."

Education Executive magazine is a bimonthly publication. Through its feature articles and corporate -spotlights, it provides thoughtful leadership from both industry experts and executives from leading organizations. The magazine covers topics such as management, new technologies, marketing programs, security, facilities/ operations and finance/legal.

The Moore County article, minus most of the photos in the print edition, can be found on the Education Executive website at www. education-executive.com.