Her Story
About Alicia
Alicia Mathewson has worked in education since 2012 and is based in Laredo, Texas. She manages student data, timelines, and communications with 53 campuses to support special education students, and she expanded her role last school year to also oversee 504 and emergent bilingual students. Alicia earned her Bachelor's in Child Psychology from the University of Phoenix and her Master's of Science in Education with a minor in Educational Diagnostician from Texas A&M International University, which she completed last May, and she is now considering pursuing a doctorate. She attributes her drive to her children, aiming to be a role model as a special education director. In addition to her district role, Alicia runs Education Consulting LLC as a side business, helping Texas families understand and navigate special education processes and advocate for their students' needs. She values family and loyalty, having been with her current employer for five years.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alicia
01What do you attribute your success to?
Probably my kids, they have been my biggest reason for wanting to do more. I grew up with a mom who was a stay-at-home mom, and for me, that just made me want to be more than not saying stay-at-home moms are bad, but I wanted my kids to be able to say, oh, my mom runs a district, or my mom's a special education director. I just wanted my kids to have something that they could be proud of.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Never stop learning. Always do above and beyond as well, to get noticed. I just finished my master's last May, and I'm already looking at my doctorate to even keep learning forward and keep growing.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
We can do anything that men can do, and more.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Definitely pay. Educators are not paid near enough across the board, and with all of the unstableness that we're seeing with the Department of Education, even in Texas, our Texas state agency, changing different laws or maybe rewording the laws. So the challenges are always there and just trying to interpret the new developing cases.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family and just remaining loyal to the company. I've been with my current company for 5 years, and I don't see myself leaving them.
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