Her Story
About Candace
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.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Candace
01What 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.
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