Her Story
About Arnita
My journey in education has been anything but traditional. After dropping out of high school in 9th grade as a young pregnant mother, I spent years working various jobs from ward clerk in labor and delivery to front-end supervisor at a grocery store, all while raising my five daughters. In 2005, I decided to get my GED and scored high enough that I didn't need any preparatory classes. What started as substitute teaching to spend more time with my children became my calling when a teacher friend told me I was the first sub he'd seen actually teach. Despite initially resisting education as a career, every door I tried to open led me back to teaching. I completed my elementary education degree at University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2018, raising my GPA from 1.2 to 3.2 while working two part-time jobs and taking care of my family. I taught grades 1, 3, 4, and 5 in Louisiana before moving to Texas. As a first-year teacher, I was thrust into a grade-level chair position when my mentor quit mid-year, and I led my students to remarkable success, planning field trips that took kids who had never traveled to New Orleans. Even after a principal told me I don't grow kids, 65% of my third graders made meets on the STAR test, helping move our school from an F to a B rating. That experience fueled my desire to go into leadership so no teacher would feel unsupported the way I did. I earned my master's in educational leadership from Lamar University in 2023 with a 4.0 GPA, making no grade less than an A because I'm determined that no educator should feel the way I felt. Now, as a Dean of Instruction and Assistant Principal in my first year, I get to touch the lives of not only children but adults as well, though my position is currently being eliminated and I'm searching for my next leadership opportunity.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Arnita
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to God, first and foremost. I was against all of this, and He truly put me where He wanted me to be. How do you go from a 1.5 or 1.2 GPA to a 4.0? I really tried not to walk this walk - I fought it tooth and nail. But next to God, it would be my daughters. I have five daughters, and I want them to know that just because you may not do everything the traditional way does not mean that you can't be successful. I want them to look and say, if my mama did it with five girls, I know good and well we can do it. I was 38 years old, graduating from college with one of my daughters who was graduating from high school. They got to see me walk, and that's what keeps me going.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best piece of advice I received actually came from my sister, and it was don't take shortcuts. That advice has stayed with me throughout my entire journey in education and in life.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Perseverance. Push, and by push, I mean pray until something happens. Just keep going. Even though there are obstacles, and there are definitely going to be obstacles, definitely keep going. Don't allow people to tell you what you can't do. I've faced so many challenges in my journey, from being told I wouldn't amount to anything when I was pregnant in school, to being told I don't grow kids as a teacher. But I kept pushing, and look where I am now. You have to believe in yourself even when others don't.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is family engagement - getting the parents involved and just as invested in their scholars' school happenings and dealings. It's difficult, but I understand it because I was 38 when I graduated and got into this field, so I was that working parent. But just getting parents to have that drive to, hey, I know you're tired, but can you push to come support your child? I don't think they understand how much that means. Not only to the child, but when the child starts to see that mom and dad, or aunt, grandma, somebody is positively invested, it helps. It makes a tremendous difference.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are honesty, integrity, accountability, and dependability. In my leadership style, I hate micromanaging. I don't want to micromanage. I am truthful and fair. My leadership style is just being fair. I listen - it's not all about me, me, me, I gotta do, do, do. No, I listen, I care, but most importantly, I'm honest and I'm fair. These values guide everything I do, both at work and at home.
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