Dr. Cheryl Pruitt
Dr. Cheryl Pruitt is a leadership strategist, author, and systems builder dedicated to equitable educational change, district turnarounds, and community-centered solutions for underserved populations. She emphasizes resilience, authenticity, and ethics as core professional values and advocates that leaders must be “whole,” prioritizing self-care to sustain long-term impact. Over her 40-year career, Dr. Pruitt has built deep expertise across multiple sectors, including healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship, guiding organizations through high-stakes challenges with clarity and purpose.
Dr. Pruitt began her professional journey as a cancer researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and as a certified scientist testing substance abuse in blood and urine, including amphetamines and cocaine. She also worked as a chemist in the brewing industry before transitioning to education, teaching biology, chemistry, technology, and physical science. Her leadership path progressed from building administrator to central office administrator, eventually leading an entire school district. She played a pivotal role in restoring accreditation for schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands and served as an elected school board official. Throughout her career, she has focused on underserved and underprivileged communities, helping them navigate challenges and maximize available resources.
Today, Dr. Pruitt leads Point Speaks for Equitable Educational Change, LLC and co-founded the National African American Literacy Institute, working with schools and organizations under Office of Civil Rights consent decrees to ensure equity is advanced. She also serves on the board of Methodist Hospital, co-chairing quality and chairing facilities, focusing on safety-net services for Medicaid and Medicare populations. Post-pandemic, her work centers on providing children and school districts with innovative tools, including AI-driven solutions, to optimize resources, improve outcomes, and equip students with skills needed for today’s world. A TEDx speaker and published author, Dr. Pruitt continues to advance transformational leadership, equity, and sustainable change nationwide.
• University of Memphis - Ed.D.
• University of Memphis - M.Ed.
• Rust College - BS, Bio
• Educator of the Year Award
• Clinton P. Smith Award
• Forbes 50 and Over Nominee
• Society of Innovators Award from Purdue University
• TEDx Speaker
• Quentin P. Smith Education Award at the Gary Alumni Honor
• Marquis Who’s Who
• Purdue Society of Innovators Award for “Bead Town”
• Distinguished Educator Award Phi Delta Kappa
• Invitation to White House Convening - Restorative Justice Panel Participant
• National One Church One School Educator of the Year
• Methodist Hospitals of Northern
• Lynx Incorporated
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
• NAACP
• The Links, Incorporated
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
• ForbesBLK
• NAACP
• SCORE Mentors
• YWCA USA
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience, authenticity, and ethics. I've had a lot of good things in terms of moving schools and school districts from maybe only 50% graduation rates to 80% or 90%, but I think all of that comes from resilience and authenticity. Things are going to get hard, especially in this climate where women are attacked because of their professions or because of what they know. How do you continue to walk through that and continue to lead and transform things in the middle of all the mist? And at the same time, lead your families and feed your children so your children get up every day, and most importantly, make sure that yourself is whole. Because oftentimes, people who do those kinds of things are working in different places, and women are always nurturers and givers to everybody else. How do you make sure you are nurturing yourself? My biggest thing is that because you can't help anybody if you're not whole. You have to be able to be your authentic self. You have to understand the resilience. And once you understand those things, then whatever, those are transformative skills that can go into anything because you don't necessarily get burnt out, you don't necessarily get frustrated, but you continue to figure out what your purpose is on this earth and walk through whatever you need to walk through, which leads to great successes.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You can and you will just keep moving forward and never look back
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be resilient and authentic; prioritize self-care so you can continue to lead, serve family, and transform institutions under difficult conditions.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Ongoing equity and funding pressures (Medicaid/Medicare and community impacts); recovery from pandemic learning loss; the need to integrate AI and to maximize limited resources to ready students with relevant skills.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Resilience, authenticity, ethics, and nurturing self-care.
Locations
Private Company
Nashville, TN 37209