Alice Cooper's anthem will soon rule the radio waves as students leave their lockers and hallways far from thought until the air begins to cool and autumn starts its descent.

This school year I donned a backpack and participated in Carbon Chamber and Economic Development's leadership program.Much like a young student on the first day of class I was unsure what to expect, although I had the advantage of knowing the women behind the program, Marlyn Kissner and Alice Wanamaker, from my job as a reporter.Along with this dynamic duo, Maureen Donovan of Lehigh Carbon Community College joined the educational fray to offer us her contagious positive attitude and years of professional wisdom.Education and dedication quickly emerged as the unofficial theme of the 2017 class that was echoed by every speaker we met with as our group of 10 began to learn about the county, how and who keeps it running and the mechanics needed to keep all the cylinders firing in our coal regional-area home.Starting in September we meet once a month in the morning, at the chamber in Lehighton for coffee and granola bars before carpooling to our monthly destinations out in one of the county's towns.We kicked off the program at the district justice's office in Palmerton where Magistrate District Justice William Kissner gave details about the little-known details of how the local judicial process works.Along with the law-based informational talk, the judge highlighted the importance of dedication and education for his success.As a chill began to color the leaves in October, our group visited the Lehigh Gap Nature Center to hear about the revitalization efforts being made to revive the purplish zinc-burdened mountain and Kittatinny Ridge where time, research and hard work were poured into the gap to bring life back into the mountain.Dedication and hard work continued to be the theme of the program as we visited the Carbon County K-9 Animal Shelter. The importance of showing up and thinking outside the box to get the job done was stressed to us by the dedicated director of the shelter.Across the parking lot the Carbon County Emergency Management Agency Director Mark Nalesnik gave staggering statistics about the rise in drug overdoses and the distressing lack of volunteer personnel in the fire companies and EMS trainees.We learned how a call to 911 really works, and that there is always someone by the phone for any emergency 24 hours a day, seven days a week.The chamber acted as host for the following month's panel discussion where a state police officer, local police chief and the county sheriff gathered around a table to explain the breakdown of job descriptions for each branch of the law enforcement departments.In April we toured the historical courthouse and met with the Carbon's President Judge Joseph J. Matika, who discussed the judicial challenges Carbon County faces.We were frisked for a second time that afternoon as we made our way through the metal detectors of the court's annex building for a lightning round of county budget and tax explanation.On May 10 we were invited to Blue Mountain Resort's banquet room for a graduation ceremony and office supplies as our program concluded.Enrollment for next year's chamber leadership program will begin soon.I encourage anyone looking to learn about the county, professionalism or as a way to think outside the typical career box and learn what the area has to offer, to sign up and absorb any wisdom imparted throughout the educational year.