Her Story
About Angela
Dr. Angela Dennis serves as Director of Federal Programs for a K–12 school district in Birmingham, Alabama, where she oversees federal entitlement funds and ensures they are strategically and appropriately allocated to support student achievement. Her work focuses on developing budgets and approving allowable expenditures that provide essential resources and opportunities for students, particularly those who have been historically underserved or face significant barriers to success. Dr. Dennis began her career in education in 2001 after initially pursuing a path in the legal field, including work in family court and plans to attend law school. Over the course of her career, she has served as a principal, school social worker, special education teacher, and director of special education. She holds a bachelor’s degree, three master’s degrees, and a doctorate, as well as multiple school leadership certifications, and is preparing to take the superintendent’s examination after completing a superintendent’s academy.
A committed advocate for educational equity and student success, Dr. Dennis is actively involved in several professional and civic organizations, including the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Kappa Delta Pi, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Phi Delta Kappa, the National Association of Special Education Professionals, the National Alliance of Black School Educators, and the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in resilience, faith, perseverance, and lifelong learning. Dr. Dennis attributes her success to remaining committed to growth and doing what is necessary in the present to create future opportunities. Having grown up in an inner-city community, she recognizes the profound impact educators had on her life and is passionate about helping provide similar opportunities for the next generation.
Dr. Dennis believes in putting students’ best interests first and encourages young women entering education to remain lifelong learners. She values humility, persistence, meaningful relationships, openness to learning, faith, and family. Her commitment to service extends beyond her professional responsibilities, as she volunteers at events that support children and sponsors children in need. Through her leadership, advocacy, and dedication to continuous growth, Dr. Angela Dennis continues to champion equitable access to education and create systems that empower students and communities to thrive.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Angela
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, perseverance, faith, and a commitment to lifelong learning. I believe in doing what needs to be done today to create the opportunities and achieve the goals I envision for tomorrow. Coming from an inner-city community, I recognize the profound impact educators had on my life and the opportunities they helped make possible. Their influence inspired me to continue learning, persevere through challenges, and remain committed to growth and excellence.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to always put my students’ best interests first. Keeping their needs, growth, and success at the center of my work has guided my decisions and reinforced the importance of serving as a dedicated advocate and educator.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the education industry is to remain lifelong learners. Continue seeking knowledge, developing your skills, and staying open to new perspectives and opportunities for growth. Education is constantly evolving, and a commitment to learning will not only strengthen your career but also empower you to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the students and communities you serve.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in education today is serving students in urban school settings who come from diverse home environments and bring a wide range of life experiences into the classroom. Developing effective programs and resources that address the individual needs of every student can be complex. I believe these challenges can be addressed through strong partnerships, collaboration among educators and community stakeholders, and the thoughtful use of data to better understand each student. By taking an individualized approach and working together, we can create more effective opportunities for all students to succeed.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are humility, persistence, connection, faith, and family. I believe in remaining humble and persistent in pursuing education and personal growth, while staying open to learning from others and new experiences. Building meaningful connections and strong relationships is also incredibly important to me, as is maintaining my faith and cherishing the support and love of family.
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