Prince Edward County Supervisor Odessa H. Pride, Ed.D. was recently recognized by the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) and the Virginia Cooperative Extension as a member of the 12th graduating class of the Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program. According to a press release, she was one of 10 members of the graduating class statewide.

“I’m completing my second year (on) the board of supervisors for the Hampden District and when I heard about the classes, I was very excited,” Pride said.

She said she was interested because she wanted to be one of the best supervisors she could be.

“I felt by taking the classes I would learn much and I have from the governance, budgeting, decision making, leadership, you name it,” Pride said. “I feel very well versed in the information and I think I can make a major contribution to the constituents of the Hampden district and other(s) in Prince Edward County.”

She said the class took approximately 18 months.

“The Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program was created to provide VACo members more in-depth knowledge about government and governing,” officials said in the release. “Virginia Cooperative Extension partners with Virginia Tech and VACo to deliver the program.”

The release cited that the Program provides an overview of the issues, expectations, and practices associated with serving as a county supervisor as well as detailed information about local government.

“Each participant completes five core courses that span 55 hours of classroom instruction and 45 hours of home study and focus on leadership development, duties and responsibilities of public officials, community planning, local government finance and collaborative governance,” officials said in the release.

“Congratulations to our newest graduates on completing one of VACo’s premier educational programs,” said Dean Lynch, VACo executive director, in the release. “We now have more than 70 graduates from more than 40 counties since the program’s first class in 2006.”

In addition to Pride, Vice Chair and Farmville 801 District Supervisor Pattie Cooper-Jones is a 2015 graduate of the Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program. Leigh District Supervisor Jerry Townsend is currently enrolled in the program.