Autumm Jeter Ed.S. ’06, Ed.D. ’12, is impacting the state of Alabama’s school systems at the highest levels through her vital work as assistant superintendent with the Alabama State Department of Education.

Growing up just outside of Birmingham, Jeter dreamed of becoming a teacher, but never imagined how far that calling would carry her.

“All I ever wanted to be was a teacher. It means the world to me to have been given this opportunity because as a young black girl, born and raised in Fairfield, Alabama, back then you didn’t hear about moving up and out of our school district too often.”

Jeter calls Samford University her college home. It was here that she met her husband, Judge Reginald Jeter ‘01, and it was here that she had her two children while completing her educational administrative certification, Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) and Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.).

“Samford is all about the teaching and learning aspect that prepares students with the real-world, applicable skills, to be successful in a variety of environments,” said Jeter. “As a student, you didn't just observe or shadow randomly, it was ensured that we were in a variety of populations and that has been extremely helpful to me in my career. While I was in school and doing those internships, I was able to make connections with sitting principals or sitting superintendents before graduation.”

As assistant state superintendent of support services, Jeter helps oversee areas such as school safety, specialized treatment centers, charter schools, compliance monitoring and school nursing. Additionally, she serves as the liaison for areas such as the Alabama School Board Association, military families, and the Purple Heart Compact group, and helps address parent concerns.

“My goal is to serve as a true support system for our schools, and to be the best educational leader possible for the areas I oversee, serving as a role model for future leaders, and continuing to collaborate with other educators to implement best practices in Alabama’s schools,” said Jeter.

Her position is the culmination of years of hard work, innovative learning and support from her friends and family. As a young woman, mentors like Randy Fuller, former superintendent of Shelby County schools, and Yvette Richardson, Jeter’s former principal now a member of the Alabama State Board of Education, poured into her professionally and encouraged her to keep seeking leadership opportunities. This is the kind of mentorship and leadership that Jeter brings to her current role at the State Department of Education.

“I want to bring an excitement about education, and educators in general to help promote and recruit individuals into the teaching field. I look forward to working with superintendents and others and letting them know what kind of opportunities are out there for them,” said Jeter.

Jeter began her role in April, where she continues to support the field of education with the same diverse, innovative and encouraging methods that have contributed to her success and those around her.

 “It has been said to me that I'm helping to shatter glass ceilings for African Americans and for women in general, and I'm excited to be a part of that but, I’m excited to do that for educators all over because all I wanted to do was be a teacher, that's all.”

While Jeter was a graduate student in Samford’s Orlean Beeson School of Education, her vision for leadership in the field of education began to center around the idea of service.

“My goal is to serve as a true support system for our schools, and to be the best educational leader possible for the areas I oversee, serving as a role model for future leaders, and continuing to collaborate with other educators to implement best practices in Alabama’s schools,” said Jeter.

Her past experience in the field of education prepared her for her to address the needs of those she serves in efficient and high-level projects that make Alabama schools a better place.

“The legislature recently provided a onetime allocation for all school systems to use for enhanced safety measures,” Jeter said. “Because this was a onetime sum of money, it was vital for us to create a seamless process that provided guidance on the possible safety resources needed in the districts. This initiative is extremely important and rewarding because it is providing updated and enhanced safety measures for our families and children.”

Jeter says her goal is to meet the various needs of all of the state’s school districts. Though these vary across the state, many of Alabama’s schools are facing holistic teacher and labor shortages, shortages in mental health and wellness resources, achievement gaps in mathematics and reading and shifting demographics.

“On behalf of the state superintendent, Eric Mackey, I am pleased to work to execute the vision, mission and strategic plan that he has outlined for all of our Alabama schools," Jeter said. "Through our work within the support services section of the Department of Education, we will carry out the state superintendent’s vision for bettering the lives of Alabama’s students, educators and families."