Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Bonita Jamison.
Hi Dr. Bonita, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story starts with adversity. I was born into instability, experienced homelessness, and was a young mother. Those early experiences shaped my resilience, work ethic, and sense of responsibility. I did not have a traditional pathway or support system, so I learned quickly how to navigate systems, advocate for myself, and create opportunities where they did not exist. I worked multiple jobs while finishing school and ultimately earned my degree, determined to change the trajectory not only for myself, but for my children.
From there, my career in education was very intentional. I began as a classroom teacher, then moved into building leadership as a principal, and later into district leadership roles, including assistant superintendent and executive director. Each step allowed me to deepen my understanding of instruction, systems, and how to improve outcomes for students at scale. That journey ultimately led me to the superintendency, where I now lead with both a systems lens and a lived perspective. My path has always been grounded in ensuring that students, especially those who come from circumstances like mine, have access to opportunities and support that change their life trajectory.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road, and that is a large part of what has shaped my leadership.
My journey has included significant personal and professional challenges, beginning with instability in my childhood and also the challenges a woman of color faces climbing the corporate ladder in the educational ecosystem where women of color are minorities in leadership roles. Those early moments required me to develop resilience, independence, and strong problem-solving skills long before entering the profession. As I progressed in my career, from teacher to principal to district leadership and ultimately superintendent, I continued to face barriers, including being underestimated, questioned, and at times made to feel that I did not belong. These were not isolated incidents, but patterns that required persistence, clarity of purpose, and a commitment to keep moving forward.
As a Black woman in the superintendency, those challenges are often amplified. I have navigated both racial and gender bias, as well as periods of isolation and heightened scrutiny. There is often an unspoken expectation to lead without error while also carrying the weight of representation. This has meant leading in systems that were not designed with me in mind, while remaining grounded in both my strength and authenticity. While the path has not been easy, these experiences have strengthened my ability to lead with empathy, precision, and a continued focus on improving outcomes for students.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I currently serve as Superintendent of Schools in Maplewood Richmond Heights School District, and at the core of my work is building systems that improve outcomes for students while also staying deeply connected to the people we serve. I specialize in creating coherence across a district, aligning instruction, systems, and resources to ensure that every student has access to high-quality learning experiences. A major part of that work is focused on equity, closing gaps for student groups and ensuring that access and opportunity are not dependent on a student’s background.
At the same time, I believe leadership has to be visible and relational. I am intentional about being present in both our schools and our community, whether that is attending choir concerts, sporting events, or showing up at community gatherings like Taste of Maplewood, the Ryan Hummert Concert Series, or Let Them Eat Art. Those moments matter because they build trust and connection. In addition, I have worked to create more structured opportunities for engagement through initiatives like Chew and Chats, community conversations, roundtables, and launching the district’s first Back to School Fair to bring families together across the entire community.
What I am most proud of is not just the outcomes we have achieved, strong academic performance, improved student growth, and increased staff retention, but how we have achieved them. We have done it by building relationships, listening to our community, and designing systems that respond to their needs. What sets me apart is that I lead with both a systems mindset and a people-centered approach. I lead with my heart and with children at the forefront of every decision that is made. I often ask myself, what would I want for my children, and allow that to guide my leadership and decision-making. I understand how to move a district forward strategically, while also ensuring that students, staff, and families feel seen, heard, and valued in the process.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I would not be where I am today without the people who saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself. My journey has never been one I walked alone. It has been shaped by mentorship, advocacy, and what I often refer to as sisterhood, the kind that holds you accountable, lifts you up, and reminds you who you are when the world tries to tell you otherwise. As the quote reminds me, “Behind every strong woman is a tribe of other strong women who have her back.”
Lisa Gross, my fourth and sixth grade teacher in the Valley Park School District, saw my potential even when my choices did not always reflect it. Brent Gregston, my high school basketball coach, filled critical gaps in my life as a student-athlete when my mother could not be present, providing both structure and belief. Sheila Smith-Anderson served as a consistent mentor throughout my career, offering guidance and helping me find and use my voice in leadership spaces. Dr. Sharonica Hardin-Bartley has been both a mentor and sponsor, providing honest, and at times difficult, feedback, answering my calls, and walking alongside me as I navigated leadership. And my aunt, Mary Ann Bright, grounded me daily, reminding me of who I am, whose I am, who I serve, and where I come from, even when the path was hard.
Collectively, they helped shape not just my success, but how I lead and serve others. And alongside them, my children have been my constant “why.” Knowing they were watching reminded me that my work was bigger than me, it was about creating pathways for students who, like me, are searching for a way to change their life trajectory.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mrhschools.net/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dr-Bonita-Jamison-MRH-School-District-Superintendent/100089951478880/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonita-e-jamison-ed-d-she-her-hers-3971b179
- Twitter: https://x.com/MRH_Supt
- Other: https://x.com/MRH_Schools/status/1567215245743034368?s=20
