Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: My Journey in Education

By Dr. Cheryl Pruitt

I’ll never forget the day a student walked into my office, diploma in hand, tears in his eyes. “I never thought I’d make it,” he said. He wasn’t alone in that feeling. Too many students, especially in underserved communities, grow up believing that success is out of reach.

That belief is what I’ve spent my entire career fighting against.

From substitute teacher to superintendent, and now Vice President at Pathways to College, I’ve made it my mission to help students see their own potential, no matter the obstacles in their way. And we made it happen—together.

During my time as superintendent in an urban school district, we achieved something incredible:

✔ 25% increase in graduation rates—the largest increase in over 25 years
✔ 19% boost in literacy rates, opening doors for thousands of students
✔ Winners of the state track championship—the first in 30 years

That last one? It was more than just a trophy. It was proof—proof that when students are given the right opportunities, the right guidance, and the right support, they don’t just succeed… they thrive.

But here’s the truth—none of this came easy.

The Power of Data and Determination

Early in my leadership journey, I realized something: Education isn’t broken because of a lack of potential. It’s broken because we fail to give students what they need to succeed.

That’s when I turned to data-driven decision-making—not just numbers on a spreadsheet, but real insights that showed us:

📌 Where students were struggling—and how we could step in before they fell too far behind.
📌 Which programs worked—and which ones didn’t.
📌 How to allocate resources to make the biggest impact.

We didn’t just assume what students needed—we listened to them, watched the patterns, and adjusted our approach.

The results? More students graduating, more kids learning to read, and a community that finally started to believe in itself again.

But the road to progress is never smooth.

Facing Adversity—And Rising Above It

Let me be real for a moment: Leadership comes with battles. And sometimes, those battles aren’t fair.

In 2018, I found myself in a situation I never expected—I was arrested. It was shocking, painful, and threatened to overshadow everything I had worked for.

But I knew who I was. I knew the work I was doing mattered. And I wasn’t going to let one moment define me.

In 2020, the prosecutor dropped the charges.

I came out of that experience with an even stronger fire in me—because I realized firsthand what so many of my students face every day: barriers, assumptions, and systems designed to hold them back.

And I knew I had a choice. I could let adversity silence me. Or I could keep pushing forward, fighting harder, and proving that no setback is stronger than purpose.

Why Community Matters More Than Ever

No one succeeds alone. That’s why, at Pathways to College, we focus on engaging families, building partnerships, and surrounding students with support.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

✔ Students do better when families are involved. We made sure parents had a voice, offering workshops and forums where they could engage with their child’s education.

✔ Businesses and mentors make a difference. We brought the community in, connecting students with career paths and real-world opportunities.

✔ Belonging changes everything. When students feel supported—not just academically, but personally—they show up, work harder, and believe in themselves.

That’s what makes the difference. Not just policies, not just funding, but real human connection.

The Next Chapter: Fighting for Our Kids’ Future

Now, I’m taking everything I’ve learned and using it to push for even bigger change. We have to do better.

That’s why I completed my upcoming chapter, “Leadership Under Siege: Intersectionality, Crisis Management, and the Global Impact of State Takeovers in Education.” It’s about the real struggles of education leaders, the fight for equity, and how we can protect our schools from systems that don’t always have our kids’ best interests at heart.

Because here’s the truth:

🔹 Education is not just about schools—it’s about survival.
🔹 Our kids don’t have time to wait for “someday.” They need change NOW.
🔹 We can’t afford to let obstacles stop us from doing the work that matters.

A Final Thought: This Fight is Bigger Than Me

I think back to that student standing in my office, diploma in hand, and I know this:

Everything I’ve been through—every challenge, every victory—has led to this moment.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about me. It’s about the thousands of students who just need someone to believe in them. It’s about the communities that deserve better, the families who refuse to give up, and the future we’re building together.

This is the fight. And I’m not done yet.

🚀 Let’s do the work. Let’s break the barriers. Let’s build the future.

About the Author

Dr. Cheryl Pruitt is a TEDx speaker, former superintendent, and Vice President at Pathways to College. She is a passionate advocate for education, leadership resilience, and transforming student outcomes through community engagement.