Meet Marsha

In many respects “Who I Am” entails both a simple and a complex answer. I am a native Texan. I grew up in Brenham, a small town in Washington County - the birthplace of Texas, the birthplace of Blinn College, and the birthplace of Blue Bell ice cream.

My mother worked as a nurse at various nursing homes in Brenham. My father served in the military and then as a bartender in Houston. As for me, I am a retired teacher, high school assistant principal, and college administrator.

During my formative years, segregated schools were the norm, and I experienced the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ of that. Although I missed more than a semester out of school due to an illness (scarlet fever), my parents, my teachers, and my principal reinforced in me that failure was not, and never is, an option.

In high school I (and others like me) had to ‘fight’ for equal access - in academics and in extracurricular activities. The same was true to a large extent in college, albeit from a male-dominated field perspective.

I then married a career military officer, and encountered many of the same stereotypes during our frequent military moves. I had to contend with other’s mentality that I did not need a job (my husband made enough money), that a less qualified man needed the job more than I did (as an industrial arts or drafting teacher), or that I would not be around long enough (to serve as a school administrator).

All of that goes into who I am today. And all of that is what I want our children, especially girls, to know – that they will continually face adversity in life, but that they can overcome these stumbling blocks. Education is the key. Perseverance is a necessity. But above all, belief in oneself is critical.

That is what I instilled in my child, who attended eight different schools in six different states and countries. Today, he is a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry, helping youth negotiate the intricacies of life.

I try to instill these same principles in children in my extended family, in my community, in my church, and wherever else I meet them.

EDUCATION

Doctor of Education, California Coast University, Santa Ana, CA
Master of Education, Prairie View A&M University Prairie View, TX
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Arts, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX
Additional Coursework: Austin Peay State University (TN); Hampton University, Hampton, VA; Alabama A&M University (AL)

EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION EXPERIENCE

Asst Manager, Enrollment Services, Blinn College, Brenham, TX
Dean of Students, Beacon High School, Beacon, NY

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Northwest High School, Clarksville, TN
A&M Consolidated High School, College Station, TX
Queens Lake Middle School, Williamsburg, VA
West Springfield High School, Springfield, VA
Johnson High School, Huntsville, AL
Ottawa-Carleton School District, Ottawa, Canada

INDEPENDENT/CONSULTANT SERVICES

Curriculum Design - Tupac Shakur Center for the Arts (Atlanta, GA)

POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT

SDEC Anti-Harassment Committee (2018)
Precinct Chair (2010-2014)
Delegate, State Democratic Conventions (several)
Volunteer, Democratic National Convention (2012)
Staff Volunteer, Obama Campaign in Ohio (2008, 2012)
Obama Presidential Inauguration (2009, 2013)
Democratic Party Grassroots Award (2013)

CIVIC & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Celebrate Our Seniors Program
Mt. Rose Missionary Baptist Church
Parent Teacher Association (Past President)