Katelyn Braswell
Katelyn Braswell is an educator and school administrator serving as an Assistant Principal within the Mobile County Public School System in Mobile, Alabama. She has known since childhood that she wanted to be a teacher, a passion that began in elementary school and ultimately guided her academic and professional path. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Special Education and Teaching from the University of South Alabama and immediately continued her studies, completing a master’s degree in education with a growing interest in school leadership. After seven years in the classroom, she transitioned into administration at a young age when she was offered an Assistant Principal role, marking the beginning of her leadership journey in school improvement.
Now in her third year as an Assistant Principal, Katelyn has primarily served in low-income school communities, where she has focused on academic growth, instructional support, and culture-building. She is especially proud of her track record in school improvement, as each campus she has supported in an administrative role has shown measurable academic gains and positive movement on state report cards. Her leadership style is grounded in high expectations, collaboration, and a deep commitment to ensuring that both students and teachers are equipped for success, even early in her administrative career.
Alongside her work in education, Katelyn is also a passionate independent music artist and worship leader at Pathway Church. She began singing at 16 and later expanded into songwriting in her twenties, releasing her first single in 2019. Since then, her music career has grown steadily, including a live solo concert with over 135 attendees, a growing online presence with more than 11,000 YouTube subscribers and 10,000 Spotify listeners, and recent radio play on a local station. She has also been involved with the Maverick City Choir and auditioned for national platforms such as American Idol and The Voice. As a mother of two young daughters, Katelyn is driven by the example she sets—balancing leadership, creativity, and family life while working toward a long-term goal of transitioning into full-time music within the next four years.
• University of South Alabama - BS, Special Education and Teaching
• Maverick City Choir
What do you attribute your success to?
I'm very driven, and my work ethic is just really strong. I don't rest well. I keep myself busy. I'm always doing some type of task, whether it's home life, running a home, or it's a project, or something with my school. I'm a go-getter, and a very driven person. I've always kind of been like that. I have a very wide array of vision, and I usually will try to make it happen. So if I dream it, I'm probably gonna make it happen. And that can be a scary thing for some people, bless my husband, but yeah, if I say it, I'm probably gonna do it. I'm an Enneagram 8, a challenger, and I'm just very driven. That's what I attribute my success to.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
When I was an early mom, somebody said to me, strap her to your chest and keep it moving. That advice really stuck with me because it reminded me that just because you're a mom doesn't mean you have to sacrifice everything. You can build with your children, not without them. Someone shared that perspective with me, and it's been something I've carried forward in how I approach both motherhood and my career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say with Jesus, anything is possible. I would encourage her to live a life for the Lord, and he will take her places that she never dreamt she would go. And just because you're a mom doesn't mean you have to sacrifice everything. You can build with your children, not without them. Someone shared that with me when I was an early mom, and they said, strap her to your chest and keep it moving. I would just say that you can have children and still have dreams, and go for it.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Katie believes one of the biggest challenges is balancing career growth, family responsibilities, and personal purpose. However, she also sees tremendous opportunity through digital platforms, streaming services, and social media, which allow independent artists and leaders to build audiences and inspire others on a larger scale.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Faith is at the center of everything I do. I believe with Jesus, anything is possible, and I encourage living a life for the Lord. Family is incredibly important to me. I love that my daughters get to watch me chase my dreams and see that their mom has a passion and love for something. I want to show them that you can have children and still have dreams, and we can do it all together. I'm also very driven and ambitious. I have a wide vision, and if I dream it, I'm probably going to make it happen. My work ethic is really strong, and I'm always working on some type of task or project. I value being a go-getter and not settling, while also staying grounded in what matters most, which is faith and family.