Two people need a hand.

First, a hand goes to Donald Oakes, who readily took on the challenge of the Vicksburg Warren School District superintendent’s spot when James Price stepped down in June.

Oakes, who had been superintendent for two years early this decade and served the same spot in an interim position before that, took the bull by the horns and successfully oversaw the beginning of the school year.

Knowing his job was to be in-and-out, he made sure the district’s business proceeded smoothly until a new superintendent could come onboard.

Thank you, Mr. Oakes.

Now, the second person.

Elizabeth Duran Swinford is in Vicksburg now, hired as superintendent, only the sixth in the 23-year-old district and the first woman. Coming from a Louisiana school district of 43,000 students and 7,000 employees, she has said her first 90 days on the job here will be spent learning about the district that is, by comparison, made up of nearly 9,000 students and 1,300 employees.

That’s where the helping hand comes in.

Dr. Swinford will meet thousands of students, parents, educators and staff members. Not to sound preachy, she needs the support of each and every one until she is grounded.

Hands up.