ATHENS — Ware County Commissioner Leonard Burse was recently honored for successfully completing core requirements in the Lifelong Learning Academy.
The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) awarded county officials with certificates for completing requirements during the 2024 ACCG Legislative Leadership Conference at The Classic Center in Athens-Clarke County.
Commissioner Burse stated, “As elected officials we should always avail ourselves of every opportunity to be trained,” said Burse. “In doing so, we can be more effective in our decision making. We should strive to be reapers of information and gleaners of truth.”
ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia have collaborated for more than two decades to provide county officials with supplemental training and educational tools in the Lifelong Learning Academy. With abundant courses from which they may choose, every county official has a tailor-made learning experience allowing them to excel in specific areas of expertise.
“The Lifelong Learning Academy is critical to educating county officials about the challenges they may encounter in public service,” said Dave Wills, ACCG Executive Director. “County leaders who prioritize furthering their education are better equipped to address those challenges and are assets to their communities. I commend Burse for his unwavering dedication to understanding his community.”
The Lifelong Learning Academy was created with input from county commissioners who identified courses based on the issues and decision-making challenges regularly faced by county officials. To ensure the course requirements and curriculum remain relevant and engaging, the ACCG Lifelong Learning Committee – comprised of county commissioners and staff from both ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia – meet regularly to review and adjust accordingly.
ACCG is Georgia’s county association and works on behalf of county officials and their communities by providing public policy and legislative advocacy, leadership development, civic and community engagement initiatives, insurance and retirement programs that specialize in local government needs and other cost-saving programs.
