A powerful journey of reinvention: how one educator pursued a Ph.D. at 51, discovering that meaningful change requires challenging systems, building transferable leadership skills, and embracing the uncomfortable path of transformation.
Her Story
About Keri
Keri is a dedicated educator, education policy advocate, and emerging leader with more than 21 years of experience serving students across California. Throughout her career, she has taught physical education, health science, and special education, working primarily in diverse and underserved communities in the Oakland, West Contra Costa, Antioch, Pittsburg, Oakley, and Stockton school districts. Her passion for helping students succeed—particularly those whose voices are often overlooked—has been the driving force behind her commitment to educational equity and student success. During her 12 years in Stockton, Keri expanded her impact beyond the classroom by developing student leadership programs, fostering community partnerships, advocating for educators, and leading initiatives that promoted student wellness, engagement, and achievement. Her work has consistently focused on creating opportunities that empower students while strengthening school communities. Committed to lifelong learning and continuous professional growth, Keri earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education (Exercise Science) from Sonoma State University, a master’s degree in Special Education for Mild to Moderate Disabilites from National University, and recently earned her Ph.D. in Educational Law from Liberty University. She holds teaching credentials in Physical Education, Health Science, and Special Education for Mild to Moderate Disabilities. As an Education Policy Fellow through the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL), she has further strengthened her expertise in education policy, gaining valuable insight into how legislation and institutional decision-making shape educational opportunities and outcomes. Her work bridges the gap between classroom practice and policy, with a focus on educational equity, legal compliance, stakeholder engagement, and systems improvement. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Keri is passionate about leadership development, community service, and lifelong personal growth. She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society for teacher excellence, the Lions Club, Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and actively supports initiatives that strengthen schools and local communities. Her commitment to perseverance extends beyond her career into her personal life, where she enjoys open-water swimming and has completed both the Alcatraz Crossing and the Golden Gate Bridge swim. Whether advocating for students, developing innovative programs, contributing to education policy, or mentoring future leaders, Keri approaches every endeavor with purpose, resilience, and the belief that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Keri
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, curiosity, and a genuine desire to make a difference. I was raised in a family of educators, which gave me an early appreciation for both the rewards and challenges of teaching. Throughout my career, I have embraced every opportunity to learn, grow, and take on new challenges—from the classroom to educational research and policy. Most importantly, I have never lost sight of why I chose this profession: to advocate for students, support educators, and help create opportunities that allow others to succeed. I believe that when passion is paired with purpose and persistence, meaningful change is possible.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received was to never lose sight of why I chose this profession. There will always be challenges, setbacks, and moments that test your resolve, but staying focused on your purpose makes it easier to navigate the difficult days. That advice has stayed with me throughout my career and continues to guide my work as an educator, researcher, and policy advocate. When your work is driven by purpose rather than recognition, the impact you make is far more meaningful.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If this is truly what you want to do, remember why you chose this profession and keep moving forward. There will be setbacks, challenges, and moments when you question yourself, but those moments do not define your career. Learn from them, keep your focus on the bigger picture, and don’t let the day-to-day obstacles keep you from the impact you’re capable of making. Your resilience will take you farther than perfection ever will.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges in education today is balancing accountability with the flexibility educators need to meet the diverse needs of their students. Limited resources, increasing regulatory demands, teacher retention, student mental health, and evolving expectations continue to place significant pressure on schools. At the same time, these challenges create opportunities to rethink how we support students, strengthen educational policy, and empower educators through innovation, collaboration, and strong leadership. I believe the future of education depends on leaders who are willing to embrace change while keeping students at the center of every decision.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my professional and personal life are integrity, compassion, perseverance, and service. I believe in treating people with respect, leading with empathy, and approaching every challenge with honesty and determination. Whether I am working with students, collaborating with colleagues, or contributing to education policy, I strive to make decisions that are thoughtful, ethical, and centered on creating meaningful opportunities for others. I believe that lasting success is measured not only by what we accomplish, but by the positive impact we have on the people around us.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Keri
It’s Never Too Late to Rewrite the Story You’re Living
How I Chose Growth Over Comfort and Found My Second Act at 51
At 51, I Made a Decision That Surprised Almost Everyone
At 51, I made a decision that surprised almost everyone around me: I enrolled in a Ph.D. program.
After more than two decades as a teacher, many people assumed I had reached the point in my career where I would simply count down the years until retirement. Instead, I found myself asking a different question:
What if the most meaningful chapter of my life hasn't happened yet?
That question changed everything.
Working Inside a System
For years, my identity was rooted in the classroom. Teaching wasn't just my profession—it was my purpose. Like many educators, I poured myself into my students, coached extracurricular programs, mentored colleagues, organized school-wide events, and believed that working harder could solve almost any problem.
But eventually, I realized something important:
Working inside a system and improving a system are not always the same thing.
That realization led me to pursue a doctorate in Educational Law. I wanted to understand how policies are created, why they succeed or fail, and how decisions made far from the classroom shape the daily experiences of students, teachers, and families.
The deeper I studied, the more I understood that meaningful change does not happen by accident. It happens because someone is willing to ask difficult questions, challenge outdated thinking, and imagine better solutions.
Education gave me that perspective.
Leadership Skills
Teaching gave me something equally valuable: the ability to solve problems with limited resources, communicate with people from every background imaginable, manage competing priorities, and lead even when no one handed me a leadership title.
Those are not just "teacher skills." They are leadership skills.
Too often, women underestimate how transferable their experience truly is.
If you've spent years managing classrooms, leading teams, coordinating initiatives, mentoring others, or navigating complex organizations, you've been building executive-level skills all along. Sometimes, we simply need permission to see them differently.
Another Crossroads
Today, at 55, I find myself standing at another crossroads.
This August, I will complete my Ph.D. in Educational Law while also beginning the prestigious Education Policy Fellowship Program through the Institute for Educational Leadership. Together, these milestones represent more than academic achievements. They represent proof that reinvention has no expiration date.
Reinvention Is Uncomfortable
The truth is, reinvention is uncomfortable.
There are moments of uncertainty—moments when you question whether you are qualified enough, experienced enough, or simply too late.
I've had those moments.
I've submitted applications that led nowhere. I've questioned whether leaving the only career I've ever known was the right decision. I've wondered whether employers would see my years in education as an asset or a limitation.
But every challenge reinforced the same lesson:
Growth rarely feels comfortable while it's happening.
Where Transformation Actually Happens
We often celebrate successful women after they've reached the finish line. We admire their confidence, accomplishments, and titles.
What we don't always see are the years spent becoming the person capable of earning those achievements.
- The late nights.
- The setbacks.
- The self-doubt.
- The willingness to begin again.
That's where transformation actually happens.
As women, we are often told to stay in our lane, become experts in one thing, and avoid taking risks that might require starting over. I believe the opposite is true.
Every new experience expands our perspective. Every challenge teaches us something we could not have learned by staying comfortable. Every reinvention makes us more capable of leading others through change.
You Are Not Defined by the Career You Started With
If there's one lesson my journey has taught me, it's this:
You are not defined by the career you started with.
You are defined by the courage to continue becoming who you are meant to be.
Whether you're considering a new career, returning to school, launching a business, or simply wondering if there is something more waiting for you, don't let age convince you that the opportunity has passed.
Sometimes the second act becomes the story everyone remembers.
Mine is still being written—and that's exactly the way I want it.
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