COMMERCE, TX— Third-grade teacher Meagan Heath recently accepted the 2019 We Teach Texas Leadership Fellow Scholarship, funded by The Texas A&M University System. The scholarship helps prepare talented teachers for leadership roles in high-needs districts.
A&M-Commerce partnered with Commerce ISD to select a qualified local scholarship recipient. Among the requirements, candidates were required to possess a strong academic record, a history of achievement and strong leadership skills.
According to Lisa Palazzetti, principal at A.C. Williams Elementary in Commerce, “Meagan exhibits fine qualities of a model teacher and employee…she is extremely knowledgeable and skilled as a master teacher in instruction, best practices, classroom management, technology and data intervention.”
Heath received her undergraduate degree from A&M-Commerce in 2011 and has dedicated her entire career to third graders at A.C. Williams Elementary. With almost a decade of teaching experience under her belt, she feels ready for the next step in her career.
“My goal is to break into the administration field and to one day become a school principal,” Heath said. “I want to create a school culture that brings excitement back into education and ensures that my students receive the highest quality of education.”
According to Heath, the We Teach Texas principal scholarship opened the door to her future. “Without this scholarship, I would not be able to attend this master’s program,” she said. “I am a recent widow and am raising my four-year-old son as a single parent. I want to show him that no matter what obstacles you face, you should never give up on your goals.”
Dr. Mark J. Reid, associate dean of the A&M-Commerce College of Education and Human Services, predicts that the principal scholarship program will impact Commerce ISD children in a significant and positive way.
“Meagan’s excellence in the classroom will undoubtedly help her translate her experience into becoming a visionary leader who puts the needs of students and teachers at the forefront,” Reid said.
Commerce ISD Superintendent Charlie Alderman agrees. “We are very excited for Ms. Heath and the opportunity she has to advance her career,” Alderman said. “We hope to always be able to grow our own future administrators. They already have a relationship with our students, parents and community.”
Heath began her graduate education at A&M-Commerce in August 2019, and she is enthused about her future in education. “My goal as a teacher and as a future administrator is to use my leadership skills, make more connections with the families in my community and make a larger impact on the academic lives of students,” Heath said. “For this reason, I desire to strengthen my educational background and become a principal.”
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About Texas A&M University-Commerce: A&M-COMMERCE serves rural and metropolitan East Texas with distinction, consistently delivering on a promise that our founder, Professor William Leonidas Mayo, made more than a century ago: “No industrious, ambitious youth shall be denied an education if I can prevent it.” We are committed to our university’s mission: Educate. Discover. Achieve.
Programs are delivered on-site at the Commerce campus as well as in Corsicana, Dallas, McKinney, Frisco and Mesquite. Many courses are also available online. Students may choose from more than 135 degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. A vibrant student life experience includes 14 NCAA Division II athletic teams, a thriving Greek system and more than 120 student organizations.
About the A&M System: The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation with a budget of $4.69 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities and seven state agencies, the Texas A&M System educates more than 150,000 students and makes more than 22 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceeded $996 million in FY 2017 and helped drive the state’s economy.
