Key Takeaways
•Educational Leadership Creates Generational Impact
Dr. Green’s career demonstrates how visionary leadership in education can shape not
only individual students but entire school systems. Through her work as a teacher,
principal, superintendent-level leader, and consultant, she has helped strengthen
schools and improve learning outcomes for communities across Mississippi and the
nation.
•Lifelong Learning Fuels Transformational Leadership
With advanced degrees and leadership certifications from institutions such as Jackson
State University, Harvard, and others, Dr. Green embodies the principle that effective
leaders remain students of their craft. Her commitment to continued learning has
allowed her to guide schools, educators, and districts toward innovation and academic
excellence.
• Service Beyond the Classroom Strengthens Communities
Beyond her professional roles, Dr. Green’s involvement in scholarship review boards,
mentoring programs, nonprofit leadership, and civic organizations reflects a deep
commitment to community development. Her work reminds us that true leadership
extends beyond career titles and into the empowerment of the next generation.
How Dr. Theresa Green’s lifelong commitment to education, leadership, mentorship, and system-building continues to create lasting impact and legacy across schools, communities, and future generations.
Q&A With Felicia Brookins• WHM Presented By Urban City Podcast 4 min read
Executive Architect Of Impact
Women Who Lead, Build, and Redefine Power
Dr. Theresa Green
Educator. Visionary. Nation-Builder.
In the world of education, leadership is often measured by titles.
But for Dr. Green, leadership has always been measured by
impact, the lives shaped, the systems strengthened, and the
futures made possible through education.
Born in Flora, Mississippi, to the late Elbert and Maggie Coleman,
Dr. Green’s story reflects the power of purpose anchored in
service. Raised in a community where education was viewed as
both opportunity and responsibility, she developed a commitment
early in life to ensure that students, educators, and schools had
the resources and leadership necessary to thrive.
A graduate of East Flora High School, Dr. Green continued her academic journey at
Tougaloo College, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology/Anthropology
and Education. Her pursuit of knowledge did not stop there. She later earned a
Master’s, Specialist, and Doctorate in Reading Technology and Early Childhood
Education from Jackson State University, positioning herself as a scholar and
practitioner deeply invested in literacy and learning.
Her leadership preparation also includes Education Leadership certifications from
Harvard University, New York State University, and Florida International University,
equipping her with national-level insight into school transformation and educational
policy.
Throughout her career, Dr. Green has held some of the most influential roles in
education, not simply guiding classrooms, but shaping entire school systems.
Her professional experience spans positions as a Teacher, Principal, Principal Coach,
Executive Director of the School Leadership Academy for Jackson Public Schools,
Deputy Superintendent for Holmes County School District, and a leader within the
Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of School Accreditation. She has also
served as a Leadership Coach and Facilitator for the National Institute of School
Leaders (NISL) at the University of Mississippi, helping cultivate the next generation of
school leaders across the state.
Her work has earned widespread recognition. Dr. Green has been named Teacher of
the Year in both Mississippi and Florida and was later honored as Administrator of the
Year for Jackson Public Schools, Mississippi’s Second Congressional District, and the
State of Mississippi, distinctions that reflect both classroom excellence and
transformative leadership.
In 2011, she founded STAR Leadership Consulting, an organization dedicated to
helping schools and districts across the country achieve academic improvement,
accreditation success, and leadership development. Through her consulting work, Dr.
Green has supported educational institutions nationwide, strengthening systems that
directly affect student outcomes.
Yet her leadership extends well beyond the classroom and boardroom.
Dr. Green serves as a Scholarship Reviewer for the Zeta National Education
Foundation (ZNEF) and the NAACP Scholarship Awards Review Teams, helping open
doors for students pursuing higher education. She also volunteers as a facilitator for
Blackburn Middle School’s Choose to Grow Afterschool Mentoring Program, mentoring
middle school students and encouraging them to envision possibilities beyond their
current circumstances.
Her civic and professional involvement includes serving as a Board Member of the
Mississippi Early Childhood Association and maintaining active membership within
professional and community organizations dedicated to educational advancement. Dr.
Green is also a proud member and past president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,
Incorporated, Alpha Delta Zeta Chapter, where she continues her service as President
of the R.O.S.E³ Foundation, the charitable arm of the chapter dedicated to community
uplift and scholarship support.
In addition to her leadership in education, Dr. Green has contributed to historical
documentation and scholarship. She served as a co-author of “Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,
Incorporated, Mighty Mississippi: Our Journey to Centennial, 1938–2020, Inaugural
Edition,” preserving the history and impact of the organization’s work across the state.
For Dr. Green, education has always been more than instruction.
It is transformation.
It is empowerment.
It is legacy.
Her journey illustrates the power of women over 50 who continue to expand their
influence long after achieving professional milestones. Through scholarship, leadership,
mentorship, and service, she has helped shape the educational experiences of
countless students and educators across Mississippi and beyond.
In the Women Over 50 Executive Series, Dr. Green represents the enduring strength of
women whose life’s work continues to create opportunity for others. Her story reminds
us that true leadership is not confined to a single role or institution, it lives wherever
knowledge is shared, potential is nurtured, and futures are built.
And Dr. Green has spent her life doing exactly that.
