Candace Chandler
What led me into education was I wanted for every child to know that they could become their best selves without going the traditional avenue through education. I've always been an outgoing person, a people person who loves collaboration and teamwork. I remember even as a young adolescent, some of my teachers couldn't understand that all learners are not the same. I didn't have a cognitive delay, but education was industrialized - bells, silence, rows, almost like a dictatorship. I vowed that I wanted to become an advocate in education so that the future could resemble what the 21st century would look like - innovative, restorative practices. I believe in mind, body, and soul, not just the academic data points, but the social-emotional intelligence of that individual. Now we have SEL, CTE, STEM, STEAM - industries that were frowned upon because they were not traditional. I wanted to create an avenue where I would integrate technology, restorative practices, and best instructional practices for the whole child, so we can create global leaders in society. As a little girl, I remember playing with my dolls and lining them up and just teaching to them, and I knew then I always loved children. I would babysit as a teenager. My mom was in education for years - she started as a teacher and went all the way up to admin. At one point I thought I would be a pediatrician, but that just wasn't my calling. My sister is a doctor, but everyone has their different assignment. Education called my name, and I went to the University of Montevallo during my 12th grade year, my senior year in high school in 2007. I got accepted into many universities, but it was something about as soon as my feet hit the cobblestone at Montevallo, I knew that I was at home. That is where my journey began. I wanted to go into education because in order to change the trajectory, the narrative, the mindset and perspective of what truly education can evolve into, we need to have like-minded individuals that are innovative, tenacious, goal-driven, but yet we put people first. I want to value and see you. Once we build that trust and relationships, now as a team we can have a systematic approach and an effective outcome. It wasn't about the title or the money - it's the purpose. I was chosen to show education a new light, a new avenue, and I've been able to carry my mission authentically without doing anything unethical.
• University of Montevallo
• Strong Her recipient 2024 with Mayor Randall Woodfin
• Keynote Speaker for the State of Alabama in February (B-A-N)
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated
• CLAS (educational leaders and administrators cohort)
• AEA (Alabama Education Association)
• Client Change
• StrongHER
• Queen O Empowerment - motivational speaking
• Women's conference speaking (Emerge conference)
• Q&A panels
• Youth development
• Mentorship
What do you attribute your success to?
My whole goal is to be the change that you want to see, as Mahatma Gandhi said. But there is a journey that comes with that, and on that journey you have highs and lows. In 2017, my low came. I was a teacher in Birmingham City Schools, and life was beautiful, so I thought, but unfortunately grief came knocking at my doorstep. At 27, I became widowed - my husband suddenly died, wasn't sick, he had a massive heart attack. I was expecting our first child and I miscarried due to the stress. Then I suffered a severe nervous breakdown. However, in the Bible, in Isaiah, God says I will give you beauty for your ashes. What I had to learn was that when you're chosen, you have to pay a price, not because you're a bad person, not because you are not living a perfect life, but God says that I want you to live a purposeful life. When I went through that, I realized that having a village wasn't about the titles anymore - it's really about the mind, the body, and the soul. I had to AAA: acknowledge where I was on that journey, accept because I didn't know that would be a part of my journey, and then activate by simply saying yes to God and allowing Him to lead that journey. With that surrender, I thought I would go into counseling because I've always been an encourager, an empowerment person, but God kept saying no, you are a leader. I ran from it until I no longer could, and now I'm at the district level, one of the youngest at 36. I was able to continue on the journey because I want people to understand that you can walk boldly after you've been broken, and that you don't have to look like what you're going through. I wanted to show them that they were worthy. My students were able to see me literally transform and trust the journey and embrace it. I didn't realize that they were giving me back life, and I was giving them the tools of how to succeed in life, even when bad things happen. Here I am, 9 years later, fully restored. I was broken into pieces, but God has put me back piece by piece. Now my leadership is not grounded just in titles, but in strategic execution, relational integrity, and a deep commitment to uplifting others through thoughtful systems and communications. Even after heartbreak, I still remain a beacon of light and joy for my students. I wanted to show all people that you can transform your sorrow into strength and your pain into purpose. I began therapy, and therapy saved my life. I learned practical steps so I can navigate my new norm in a healthy manner. That is why SEL is so important in education - you cannot reach the whole person or child if you don't invest in their mind, body, and soul. I just transformed my sorrow into strength. I surrendered to the process, and the beauty of it was because I did the work, I'm not bitter. I know that I've emerged because I'm no longer operating in survival mode - I'm now in a place where I'm actually happy and I've embraced life.