Meredith B. Hanson
Meredith Hanson is the Director of Personnel for Vestavia Hills City School District in Birmingham, Alabama, bringing more than three decades of experience in education to her role. Guided by a leadership philosophy rooted in service, listening, and advocacy, Meredith believes effective leadership is less about titles and more about supporting people through moments that matter. Her work is centered on building trust, fostering growth, and ensuring that schools are staffed with dedicated professionals who serve students with excellence.
Meredith began her career as a classroom teacher in 1994, spending 13 years teaching before transitioning into school and district leadership. Her career path includes roles as assistant principal, middle school principal, assistant superintendent, and executive director of personnel in Auburn. These experiences shaped her deep respect for the responsibility educators carry and ultimately led her back to human resources, where her passion and expertise align most naturally. She has served in her current personnel leadership role for more than six years.
Today, Meredith oversees recruitment, retention, and personnel operations for one of Alabama’s top-performing school systems. Her work includes interviewing and mentoring educators, resolving personnel matters, supporting National Board–certified teachers, and leading a mentor program for new teachers. She is also actively involved in statewide initiatives to recruit math and science teachers and frequently travels to connect with talented educators nationwide. Meredith holds advanced degrees in educational leadership and remains engaged in professional organizations, serving as secretary and treasurer of ASPA for Alabama and as a member of CLAS—reflecting her commitment to continuous learning and educational excellence.
• Lincoln Memorial University - MEd
• ASPA
• UAB
• Auburn University
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest opportunities in my field is expanding access and representation for students from diverse backgrounds. Beyond my district, I am deeply committed to creating pathways for students through my volunteer work with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Auburn University. I support students with mock interviews, résumé development, and overall career readiness, while also actively working to recruit diverse talent into a district that is predominantly white. I firmly believe that representation matters, and that schools—and the students they serve—are stronger when they reflect a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
At the core of my work and personal life is the belief that every child deserves access to high-quality educators who are well prepared, supported, and deeply committed to student success. I am passionate about mentorship and actively involved in mentoring programs that support the growth and development of future educators and leaders. I am deeply invested in recruiting, developing, and retaining professionals who make a meaningful impact in the classroom, while advancing equity and opportunity across our schools. Through intentional partnerships with HBCUs and other higher-education institutions, I work to expand access and representation by building diverse and sustainable talent pipelines. Equally important to me is a commitment to lifelong learning—both my own and that of the educators and leaders I support—because continuous growth is essential to sustaining excellence in education and leadership.
Locations
Vestavia Hills City School District
Birmingham, AL 35242