Mrs. Latonya Jackson of Ripley received DSCC’s Outstanding Alumna Award during the College’s annual Fall update for faculty and staff in August. Each year, DSCC presents the Outstanding Alumni Award to nominated individuals who have excelled in their field, given back to the community, and served as positive role models.
Dyersburg State Community College honored Latonya Jackson of Ripley and Chad Webb of Dyersburg with Outstanding Alumni Awards during the College’s annual fall update event Aug. 14. The event was held virtually via Zoom teleconferencing. Danny Walden, President of the DSCC Alumni Association, and Dr. Karen Bowyer, President of DSCC, presented the awards with over 200 faculty and staff attending virtually.
Jackson graduated from DSCC with an Associate of Science degree in Elementary Education in August 1997. She attended the University of Memphis and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a major in Human Development and Learning in 1999, and a Master of Science degree in Education with a major in School Counseling from the University of West Alabama in 2006. In addition, she received a master’s degree in Education with a major in Educational Leadership from Trevecca University in 2010.
Jackson began her career working at Brighton Middle School as a teacher and counselor in 1999. In 2010, she became the Principal at Ripley Middle School. Following this, she became the Principal of Haywood High School in 2018. She is currently employed at the Lauderdale County Board of Education as the Director of Secondary and Career Technical Education.
She received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the University of Tennessee at Martin’s WestStar Leadership Program and is a member of the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents Associate Leadership Institute.
“DSCC made it convenient to advance my education,” Jackson said. “They offered multiple classes at all times throughout the day allowing me to work around my family’s schedule. The faculty and staff were friendly and always willing to help. There were appropriate class sizes that did not create barriers for learning. The campus was always clean and I felt safe.”
She and her husband, Dalton, reside in Ripley and they have two children, Travis and Latrecia.