Anita Wansley Named Mississippi’s 2024 Administrator

of the Year

Amy Roberson

For Anita Wansley, principal of Northeast Elementary School in Lauderdale County, being named Mississippi’s 2024 Administrator of the Year is a well-deserved honor for an educator whose interests and career path have been quite diverse.

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Wansley has lived in Mississippi for the last 30 years. Married to her husband Chris and mother to four children, she earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, VA, and later a master’s degree in educational leadership from Mississippi State University. As part of her award, she will soon begin her specialist’s students every day. degree at William Carey University.

Wansley’s path to educational administration has not always been a linear one. She began her career as a special education teacher but then stepped aside for 15 years to raise her children. As well as being mother and caregiver to four young children, Wansley took various roles that allowed her to continue to influence those around her in a positive way. For six years, she directed Community of Hope, a tutoring program which utilized high school students to tutor elementary students. She also worked as a ministry coordinator for her church where she organized events, interacted with the community and created curriculum.

While leading Northeast Elementary School to an A rating three years in a row is an accomplishment for which Wansley is proud, she sees the smaller daily gains as more important for herself and for her students. She says, “It is the dayto-day wins. It is the child who goes from not wanting to come to school and having meltdowns to adjusting and making friends. It is the building leadership capacity in teachers to be team leaders. It is the partnerships built with parents who are reluctant to trust a school and then become our best advocates. It is creating a vision each year with our hashtags and creating a school culture that is both positive and passionate.” These are the situations and moments that make Wansley proud to be an administrator in Mississippi public schools.

Wansley is quick to share her acco- lades with those who helped her become the educator she is today. She credits her parents, Allen and Ruth Zendt, for her strong work ethic and for her compassion toward all people. They instilled in her a love for others. Her mother, especially, always reminded her to look for the things that need to be done and to do them without being told to do so. She also credits Dr. Penny Wallin, Dr. Rosalin Operton and Dr. Howard Savage of Mississippi State University’s Educational Leadership program for much of her success. Wansley remarked, “All three of these amazing leaders in education pushed me to think outside the box and figure out the big picture.”

Unsurprisingly, others are just as quick to point out the leadership quali- ties and inspiration of Wansley. Zachari Ruff, assistant principal of Northeast Elementary School in Meridian, was a fellow student in Mississippi State University’s Educational Leadership Cohort. When asked to describe his feelings about Wansley, Ruff responded, “From the very start, I was inspired by her passion for leadership, her clear vision for building authentic relationships, and her deep commitment to creating a thriving educational community.” He was eager to join her team at Northeast Elementary school when the opportunity arose, and when asked to further describe his experience working and interacting with her, Ruff replied, “She has established a strong foundation grounded in values of learning, collaboration and celebration. These guiding principles have not only shaped our school culture but have also inspired both staff and students to excel. As an innate encourager, she consistently motivates those around her and fosters an environment where others feel empowered to take on leadership roles.”

Clearly, Wansley has been leading others in the right direction as she has developed close relationships with those around her.

When asked to give some advice to someone entering education as a profession, Wansley says, “Self-awareness is about knowing how you impact others. As teachers and leaders, we impact those in our care and through our attitudes; our abilities and inabilities will affect those around us. It is important to take responsibility for that impact.” She also believes in the importance of reflection on any and every task, no matter the seeming importance or frequency of the task. She believes that reflecting on events, programs and relationships all have a place in educational and personal growth. Additionally, she cites bravery in all situations as a necessary component for teachers and administrators. “Be brave,” Wansley said. “Go for it, try new things, mess up and do it better next time.” And, lastly, she added that laughter is paramount. Finding humor and seeking out others who find humor amidst difficult situations and seasons is a key component to her success and the success of those around her.

Any educator will tell you that challenges arise at every turn in this profession. To survive and grow in the profession, every educator must find something that motivates them to face those challenges. Wansley is no different. She comments, “Regardless of the decisions that need to be made, urgent issues to discern, heartbreaking circumstances that need comfort or details that need taken care of before they become huge problems, a principal needs to keep being positive and moving his or her school forward. For me, it is about keeping my mindset grounded in the foundation that education is about people. I keep going because I see that good is also happening. I see the wins, the progress, the kindness and the laughter. With all this, I am reminded that I get to do this role every day.”