Dr. Versie Hamlett is excited about many things that are currently going on in the Humboldt City School District. Recently, the school board voted to close the middle school because it was deteriorated, which will be a cost saving measure that will allow funding for new educational programs. Also, Humboldt “received The Mathematics Science Partnership Grant from the state department worth 260,000.00,” which Dr. Hamlett will use to “focus on K-8 teacher professional development.” The system has implemented new reading intervention programs K-12.”
Dr. Hamlett has been working professionally in education for twenty years. Her favorite subject as a student was Government and History. When asked about her favorite things as well as her most challenging things so far as a superintendent in the Humboldt System, Dr. Hamlett shared that she enjoys “the opportunity to have a direct impact [in changing] students’ lives.” The most challenging thing she has experienced is “getting all stakeholders … on board quickly to impact student achievement this year.” A year from now Dr. Hamlett would hope to have achieved a smooth transition in combining the Junior and Senior high school, implantation of new education programs, and to have improved test scores.
For times of relaxation, Dr. Hamlett’s favorite things to do with her family is spending time with them at the holidays and vacations at the beach.
To learn more about Dr. Hamlett please see her bio below:
Dr. Versie Ray Hamlett is a native of Palestine, Arkansas where she attended Shiloh Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Her mother, Minister Oretha Ray, served as the pastor of Shiloh for 20 years, Miles Chapel of Marianna, Arkansas for five years, and Moore’s Chapel in Poplar Grove, Arkansas for 14 years. Dr. Hamlett grew up on a farm with 9 siblings where her parents instilled Christian values and a very strong work ethic. After graduating from Palenstine High School, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Lane College in 1994; her Master of Arts degree in Education from Freed-Hardeman University in 1995; her Education Specialist Degree from Union University in 2006 and her Doctor of Education degree from Union University in 2008.
Dr. Hamlett was recently appointed Superintendent of the Humboldt (Tennessee) School System. On the occasion of her historic selection by the City of Humboldt School Board, she became the first African-American and the first woman Superintendent in the history of Humboldt. Prior to her appointment, she served as the Chief Academic Officer of the Jackson Madison County School System; and also as a former Leader of Elementary Education, elementary school principal and teacher over a span of 19 years. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Education at Lane College.
Dr. Hamlett is a member of the Jackson Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and the Humboldt Rotary Club. She is a member of Hurt’s Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church for over 20 years where Dr. Nathaniel Carter is her pastor. She is married to Mr. Melvin Ross Hamlett, Sr., Lane College’s Vice President for Business and Finance.
