LAUNCH to EXCELence Leadership Academy

Statewide Cohort Number 4 (Spring Semester 2026)

Sponsored by Excel By 5, Inc. | Supported by the State of Mississippi

About the Program

The LAUNCH to EXCELence Leadership Academy (Leadership, Awareness, and Understanding to Navigate our Children Higher to EXCELence) equips leaders across Mississippi to connect early childhood, community engagement, and workforce development.

Developed in partnership with Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding in 2019, LAUNCH began as a local leadership pilot in Jackson County. Between 2019–2021, three cohorts completed the Academy, training educators, community leaders, and business partners to advocate for early childhood as a cornerstone of workforce development.

In 2025, new state appropriations reignited the program statewide through Excel By 5, expanding access to all four congressional districts.

Why It Matters

Mississippi loses an estimated $673 million annually in productivity and earnings due to child care challenges (Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, Untapped Potential, 2021). Parents of young children represent the largest untapped workforce in the state. LAUNCH to EXCELence develops local champions who understand that child care and early learning are not just education issues—they are economic priorities. 

Program Overview

The 2026 Spring LAUNCH Academy will engage up to 24 fellows statewide, divided across two pilot district cohorts. Each fellow participates in a six-month experience designed and led by Drs. Chris and Barbara Smith of Exponential Development Group (EDG), in collaboration with Excel By 5 Regional Navigators.

If selected for LAUNCH, you are committing to these dates: 

• December 16, 2025 – Virtual Zoom (noon) Selection Party

• January 20, 2026 – In-person Kickoff Summit (8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.)

• February 17, 2026 – Virtual Zoom (10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)

• March 17, 2026 – District-based session

• April 21, 2026 – Virtual Zoom (10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)

• May 19, 2026 – Virtual Zoom (10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)

• June 16, 2026 – In-person Summit and Graduation Ceremony (8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.)

• In addition to these dates, you will also have one date each month that will be based on your regional cohort’s availability. 

• Participants will receive individual coaching in March.

What Fellows Gain

• Leadership and emotional intelligence skills to lead across sectors

• Deeper understanding of early childhood’s link to workforce and economic growth

• Experience in collective thinking, coaching, and communication

• Capstone project design applying leadership lessons to local early childhood challenges

• Coaching and mentoring from regional Navigators

• Contact hours, CEUs, OSLs, or SEMIs are available at completion

• Entry into the statewide LAUNCH Alumni Network

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Live or work in Mississippi within one of the four congressional districts

• Represent an organization connected to education, health, business, workforce, or community leadership

• Have an interest in supporting and encouraging our youngest citizens, their parents, and education providers

• Submit all application materials by midnight on November 30, 2025.

• Have supervisor approval for full participation in required sessions

Should you apply? 

LAUNCH is a six-month program that uses experiential learning, collaborative engagement, and executive coaching in a cohort model to create a dynamic learning experience that strengthens each participant’s capacity to lead. Now entering its fourth cohort, the Academy has proven that graduates leave equipped to take on greater leadership roles in their organizations and communities, advancing early childhood and workforce development across Mississippi.

Participants are prepared to lead with confidence, advocate for early childhood education, and inspire others to invest in the success of Mississippi’s youngest citizens. 

Whether you are an educator, healthcare provider, nonprofit leader, business professional, or community advocate, LAUNCH to EXCELence is designed to help you grow as a leader and create lasting change for Mississippi’s children and families.

Committment

• Attend Academy sessions, including the in-person Kickoff and Closing Summits

• Complete brief assignments and coaching sessions

• Collaborate with their district cohort and Navigator/Coach on the Excel by 5 Coalition Capstone Project

• Share lessons within their organization, community, and Excel by 5 coalition following completion

• Participation represents a $4,000 investment per fellow funded by Excel By 5, local partners, and the State of Mississippi. In return, we ask you to honor the time, energy, and resources that have been invested in providing this program. 

Capstone & Community Impact

Each cohort will develop a Capstone Community Action Plan aligned to one of Excel By 5’s four focus areas:

• Early Care & Education

• Family & Parent Support

• Health

• Community Engagement

• Projects may include developmental screening initiatives, child care business collaborations, family literacy or baby-bag campaigns, and chamber leadership briefings. Projects will connect directly to work in Excel by 5 communities connected to the cohort participants. Fellows will present their projects during the June Closing Summit.

Professional Development Extension

During their Academy semester and following graduation, fellows remain eligible for ongoing professional learning sessions led by Navigators and partners, such as:

• Conscious Discipline and trauma-informed leadership

• Mind in the Making

• Business & Tax Credit sessions for employers

• Advocacy and community storytelling

• Collaborative facilitation and coalition coaching

Recognition

Graduates will:

• Be recognized as LAUNCH to EXCELence Fellows

• Receive official certificates and pins at the June 16, 2026, Closing Summit

• Join the statewide Alumni Network for continued engagement and visibility