Autumn Thomas

I think I had a solid foundation and a good upbringing. I've always been told that I'm a good person that I'm sweet and kind and even though I've been hurt by not always receiving that love in return, I really dig when I can make other people feel good. I had a family foundation that spoke positive over me, and then I realized not everybody has that. When I was an RA in college and I saw all the different backgrounds that people had, that's when I first realized that people don't come from the best upbringing. Having people to affirm who I am made me want to affirm others as well. I'm blessed to come from two grandmothers who were in education - my grandma Dorothy, who passed when I was really young, and my dad's mom. I knew my maternal grandmother was an educator by the way my mom spoke about her, so my mom definitely inspired me, but I think it was in my bloodline even before my mom, with both my grandmas being educators. Professionally, there was a psychologist named Dr. Francis Cress Welsing who passed maybe 10 years ago. When I was in college, I studied her, and she had no fear in unearthing things and really getting to the core and the root. She really inspired me to always dig deeper and to always understand the why behind something - why do we believe this, why do we do this. That mindset has shaped how I approach my work.

The best career advice I’ve ever received, both directly and through the influence of those who shaped me, is to always look beneath the surface and understand the “why” behind people’s actions and experiences. I was deeply influenced by my family lineage of educators, including both of my grandmothers, as well as my mother, who instilled in me a strong respect for learning and the power of education to transform lives. Their example taught me that education is not just about instruction, but about legacy, service, and impact across generations. I was also profoundly inspired by the work of psychologist Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, whose approach to examining root causes challenged me to think more critically and intentionally about human behavior and systems. Together, these influences shaped my belief that in order to truly support and educate others, you must seek understanding beyond surface-level actions, remain curious about lived experiences, and lead with empathy, accountability, and a commitment to helping people grow.

I would tell young women entering my field to do it scared. Every meaningful step in my career has come with some level of fear, but I’ve learned that fear is often a sign that you are stepping into growth. When I worked in a youth detention setting, I was initially uncertain about what I would experience, but it became one of the most impactful roles of my life because it taught me to see people beyond their behavior and to understand that effective education requires seeing the whole person, including their background and lived experiences. I’ve learned to love people while not excusing harmful actions, which allows me to approach every student with a clean slate and the belief that anyone can learn and change. That same mindset carried me when I moved abroad without knowing Spanish and even in my current role as a director overseeing both college and career readiness and school culture—responsibilities I had never managed before. Each time, I stepped forward despite fear and found that growth and success were always on the other side of it.

In reflecting on the biggest challenges and opportunities in my field, I recognize that one of the most important dynamics in education is the wide range of emotional, social, and environmental support students bring into the learning space. I was fortunate to grow up in a supportive environment where I was consistently affirmed, and that foundation has shaped how I show up for others and how I approach my work in education. Through my experiences as a Resident Assistant and throughout my career, I came to understand that many students do not have the same level of stability or affirmation, which impacts their confidence, behavior, and ability to fully engage. This awareness has strengthened my commitment to creating environments where students feel seen, supported, and valued, and I view this as both a challenge and an opportunity in my field—to intentionally provide the encouragement and consistency that helps students build confidence, resilience, and a stronger sense of self.

I value spirituality - whatever that looks like for someone, but I do believe that we have to be grounded spiritually. Some people kind of jump to a religious aspect, but I'm guided by my spirit, so if something doesn't feel right, I'm asking questions, and if something feels really good, then I'm like, okay, I want to continue down this path. I value integrity. In all the roles that I've been in, I just always want to do it the right way, and I want people to know it's important to be true to who you are and to stand on that. Even - that's why I say do it with the fear, like you're scared, but it's you, and you have to do it anyway. And I would say a last one would be being humble. As long as you know that there's another level to play at, you stay hungry, and as long as you know that you're not the one that has all the answers, you can always continue to grow and learn. I'm born and raised in Florida, but I've been living in the DC area for the last 9 years now. I go to the gym very often. I have a 9-pound Chihuahua, so he is my son. I love to read, which encouraged me to write my own book, because I'm always reading books and I'm like, I can do this myself. I love to learn something new, so I'm always looking to improve my Spanish, but I also kind of started learning Portuguese. I do hair on the side - I don't do it as much, but if there's a style that somebody wants and I've never done it before, I like to take the time to watch YouTube videos, do the research, and practice and really get good at it. And of course, travel - I like going back and forth home. I have family all over, so I have family in Florida, Georgia, Ohio, North Carolina, so I like traveling and visiting family and friends.