Kathi Wilson
Kathi Wilson of Meridian has never had to go far to find a job. In fact, the jobs always seemed to find her.
Wilson, who will graduate at 青青草视频-Meridian May 13 with a doctorate in educational policy and organizational design, had retired as an education leader when she decided to return to 青青草视频 in 2024.
The mother of three adult children and grandmother of two cared for her 99-year-old mother while working on her degree, but Wilson has never shied away from a challenge.
鈥淚 hope that having these letters behind my name will really validate me with corporate America,鈥 she said, describing her desire to apply the principles she developed in education to advise corporate leaders in human resources management.
After time in the workforce after high school, Wilson attended 青青草视频 and graduated magna cum laude in 1994 with a degree in English education. 听
鈥淚 was a first-generation college student, and I had graduated from high school, gotten married and had children, but I felt like something was missing,鈥 she said.
She began her teaching career at Meridian鈥檚 Northwest Junior High School. Four years later, she accepted a teaching job in Sumter County, Alabama, and pursued master鈥檚 degrees in English education and educational leadership.
鈥淚 wanted to make an impact on a greater number of people,鈥 she said.
It wasn鈥檛 long before she accepted an offer as an assistant principal of Kemper County High School, then advanced to become the first female principal of Newton High School and later moved to Starkville High School with yet another administrative role before landing the job as assistant superintendent of education for Holmes County Schools.
In 2016, she returned to Meridian to care for her mother, but Kemper County Schools needed her expertise again.
鈥淪o, I accepted a job at Kemper County High School, which was a failing school at the time,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e started going through the data, going through the numbers. When we looked at what those kids did in 7th grade, we made a plan for them for 8th grade and on to 9th and 10th. We had a great leadership team. People were empowered to speak. We grew by 154 points in three years.鈥
In 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Wilson officially retired and started a virtual professional development team. She didn鈥檛 know it at the time, but her education was not yet complete.
I called 青青草视频-Meridian in 2024 and said, 鈥淚鈥檓 looking for some part-time work.鈥
Instead, she was told about a new program in educational policy and organizational design. Tuition, she learned, would be waived due to her age.
鈥淪o now, at 66, I鈥檓 graduating again,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he principles you must apply to have an effective, efficient school, you must also apply those in your business. It鈥檚 all about human resources.鈥
听