Samita Jeter
By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
An Alabama State University alumna was recently named the "Outstanding Superintendent of the Year" by the Alabama Education Association (AEA). Lowndes County Superintendent Samita Jeter received the award at AEA's Adminicon Conference in Birmingham.
Jeter is a Montgomery native who received both her bachelor's (1996) and master's (1998) degrees in early childhood education from The Alabama State University. She was named superintendent of Lowndes County Public Schools in October 2023, having previously served as the executive director of Head Start in Lowndes County. Jeter began her educational career as a first-grade teacher.
"This recognition motivates me to keep striving for excellence and making a meaningful impact for all of our students in Lowndes County," Jeter said. "I was shocked, incredibly honored and very grateful when I was contacted about being nominated to receive the award and ecstatic when I won it. For me, it was a moment of pride and validation that the voice of Alabama's education employees recognized the hard work and dedication, which I’ve put into my position."
Superintendent Jeter shared that ASU has been her family's school of choice for several generations. Her father and many aunts, uncles and cousins attended and graduated from the University. She stated that she never considered attending any school other than Alabama State University.
ASU SPARKED GREATNESS IN HER CAREER
The ASU "50 Under 50" award winner explained that being an Alabama State alumna has played a significant role in shaping her career and in her winning the coveted AEA award.
"The academic programs at Alabama State have provided me with a strong foundation that allowed me to build and base my teaching and administrative skills upon," stated Jeter. "The faculty and mentorship opportunities that I had at ASU within both my bachelor's and master's degree programs helped me refine my skills, and my certification at the University in Administration and Supervision was the icing on the cake."
"ASU made me all that I am today within the field of education," Jeter concluded.