In Conversation
Annie delos Santos-Jones for Bold. Brilliant. Unstoppable.
Read the transcript
Annie delos Santos-Jones, Ph.D.: Speaker: Annie delos Santos-Jones, English Language Arts and Dual Credit instructor, Holbrook Unified School Dist 3Annie delos Santos-Jones: Failure is not the opposite of success.What does being an Influential Woman mean to you?Annie delos Santos-Jones: What does being an influential woman mean to you? I would answer this from an educator's perspective. As an alumna of the University of Saint La Salle in the Philippines, where I earned both my bachelor's degree and my PhD, I was deeply influenced by the La Salle mission of teaching minds, touching hearts, and transforming lives. That philosophy has stayed with me throughout my career. So for me, an influential woman in education is someone who lives out that mission every day. As a teacher, I see myself as more than someone who simply delivers lessons. In many ways, I'm like a mother in the classroom. I guide my students. I hold them accountable. I encourage them to become the best version of themselves and make sure they learn in an environment where they feel safe, respected, and supported. At the end of the day. An influential woman for me is not defined by the title she holds or the award she receives. Rather, she is defined by the lives she touches, the values she instills, and the difference she makes in the people she serves. So that for me is what an influential woman is.What's one piece of advice you would give to younger women chasing their dreams?Annie delos Santos-Jones: One advice. I think never to be afraid to fail. Failure is not the opposite of success. In fact, it's often part of the journey. So if you fall, get back up, learn from the experience, and keep moving forward. I say this because I've lived it. There was a time when I struggled as a single mother, working hard to provide for myself and my son. And those challenges became the reason why I pushed myself to grow, so I decided to pursue further studies, not just to earn another degree, but to create better opportunities for me and my son. And looking back, I realized that every sacrifice and every setback helped shape the person that I am today. My advice also is very simple. Never stop investing in yourself. Keep learning, pursue opportunities that help you grow, and do not be afraid to dream bigger than your current circumstances. There is no single timeline for success, so just believe in yourself, stay resilient, and trust that your perseverance will open doors you never imagined possible.
Her Story
About Annie
Annie delos Santos-Jones, LPT, PhD is an accomplished English language educator, researcher, and academic leader with nearly two decades of experience in secondary and higher education across the Philippines and the United States. She currently serves as an English Language Arts Teacher and dual credit instructor at Holbrook High School in Northern Arizona, where she focuses on developing students’ critical thinking, communication, literacy, and writing skills. In addition, she serves as a graduate school professor, continuing her commitment to preparing future educators and advancing language education. Throughout her career, she has taught English language, literature, writing, and communication courses while holding progressive leadership roles in higher education, including department head, research coordinator, and program chair for English Language and Communication programs. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, a Master of Arts in Education specializing in English and Literature, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of St. La Salle. Her research interests include applied linguistics, literacy development, educational technology, teacher professional development, and the responsible integration of artificial intelligence in education. Her recent research explores how AI can support student writing while maintaining student voice, creativity, and ethical learning practices. Beyond the classroom, Annie is passionate about lifelong learning, mentorship, and empowering both students and educators to navigate the evolving landscape of language and technology. She has contributed to academic research through multiple publications and actively engages in professional development related to AI literacy and innovative teaching practices. She attributes her success to continuous growth, curiosity, and a commitment to learning, while leading with values of integrity, humility, and service in both her professional and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Annie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my lifelong desire for continuous learning. Even up to now, I remain eager to learn new things and embrace new opportunities for growth. I believe that as educators, we cannot inspire our students to become lifelong learners if we stop learning ourselves.
I am also deeply grateful to my parents, who always encouraged me to pursue further studies and stay focused on my goals. My husband has been a constant source of support in all my endeavors, especially as I completed my PhD. Finally, I credit two of my closest friends for encouraging me to believe in myself. I have often struggled with self-confidence, but their encouragement gave me the courage to step outside my comfort zone and pursue opportunities I might otherwise have avoided. Their support reminds me of the importance of encouraging others—just as we strive to do for our students every day. Above all, I attribute my success to God, who is the source of every blessing, opportunity, and ability that I have. Whatever I have achieved is only possible because of His grace, guidance, and faithfulness throughout my journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received came from my dad. He always told me, "If you have a goal, stay focused. Don't get distracted." It sounds simple, but it has guided me throughout my life. Whenever I set a goal, I give it my full attention and commit myself to achieving it. That mindset helped me pursue my master's degree, complete my PhD, and continue seeking opportunities for professional growth. It also led me to embrace new challenges. I have learned that success is rarely about talent alone. It is about having a clear goal, staying focused despite distractions or setbacks, and never stopping your pursuit of learning. That advice has shaped not only my career but also the person I have become.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Never be afraid to fail. Failure is often part of the journey toward success. If you stumble, just get back up, learn from the experience, and just keep moving forward. Also, never stop investing in yourself. Take every opportunity to learn, pursue further education, and equip yourselves with the knowledge and skills that will help you grow personally and professionally.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in education today is Artificial Intelligence. AI has the potential to personalize learning, support struggling students, and help teachers become more effective. However, it also presents one of our greatest challenges. As educators, we can no longer assess learning the same way we did in the past. Students now have access to tools that can generate essays, solve problems, and produce polished work in seconds. This means our role as educators is evolving. Rather than focusing solely on the final product, we need to focus on the learning process—how students think, question, revise, and reflect. We must teach them not only how to use AI, but also how to evaluate its outputs critically and use it ethically and responsibly. That is why I believe the future of education is about preparing students to thrive alongside it by developing the very skills that AI cannot replace—critical thinking, ethical judgment, creativity, communication, and empathy. If we can do that, then AI becomes not a threat to education, but a powerful tool that helps us fulfill our mission as educators.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I believe integrity is the most important value in both my work and my personal life. To me, integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching and not seeking recognition for it. It is what makes my work genuine and authentic rather than something done merely for show. As educators, we are role models, and our students often learn as much from our character as they do from our lessons.
Humility is another value I hold dearly. I believe there is always something new to learn and that every person has something valuable to teach us. Humility keeps me grounded, reminds me to treat others with respect, and allows me to continue growing both personally and professionally.
Finally, I remind myself that I am not in this world to please everyone. Trying to satisfy every person often leads us to compromise our principles and, in the end, please no one. Instead, I strive to stay true to my values, give my best in everything I do, and let my work speak for itself. I may not be able to influence everyone, but if I can inspire even one student to become a person of integrity, humility, and purpose, then I know I have fulfilled my role as an educator.
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