COLUMBUS, Miss. (CMSD) - Dr. Lakesia Bryant has seen the inside of a special education classroom from every angle… pupil, educator, and administrator.
Bryant was in the fifth grade when she was placed in special education for a reading deficit. While she was only in her school’s SPED program for one academic year, she believes it was divine intervention.
“I still use the reading techniques my teacher gave me all those years ago. I really believe God placed me there to do this job,” said Bryant.
She later learned about working with special needs students in high school.
“I was a student worker in SPED. I filed papers and helped the staff,” Bryant recalled
Earlier this year, the Columbus Municipal School District hired Bryant to lead its special education and special programs.
Accepting the band director and girls track coach at the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind 23 years ago started Bryant’s career in education
Bryant has worked as an athletic director, assistant principal, and principal. The Lincoln County native’s career has also taken her to Lawrence County Schools, McComb Schools, the Mississippi School of the Arts, and the Mississippi Department of Education.
Soon after graduating from Jackson State University, Bryant started working at the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. She wanted to learn more and took classes on vision impairment and Braille.
She also has a nephew who has Autism. So, she understands the challenges some families face in the classroom.
“I’m their biggest advocate. I want to make sure students have the things they need to be successful,” explained Bryant.
Under her direction, the Lawrence County School District’s SPED student graduation rate skyrocketed. In 2020-21, the district had the sixth-highest SPED graduation rate in the state. By the time 2023 rolled around, the ranking jumped to the second-highest in the state.
“That was the first time that I was a SPED Director. The six years I spent there really laid the foundation for me,” explained Bryant.
One of her goals at CMSD is to purchase behavior intervention software to help develop intervention plans and track student behavior.
The long-time educator’s other passion in life is her love of music. She’s played the trumpet for 37 years. While in college, Bryant played in the JSU Jazz Band 1, Symphony Orchestra, Brass Choir, and JSU Wind Symphony. She’s a member of the Ole Brook Wind Symphony and Jazz Band. Since joining CMSD, Bryant has also joined the Starkville/MSU Community Band.
“My first day on the job at CMSD, I went to practice (at MSU). I’ve always loved music. The first musical experience that I can remember was in third grade. Our music teacher gave us a recorder, and I was hooked,” said Bryant.
While music is an outlet and a passion, Bryant knows she has work to do at CMSD.
“I believe the biggest opportunity we have here is to work on our transition program. This is where students can have jobs during school hours. We work with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services to make sure our SPED students have these types of opportunities. They even get a counselor to assist in this transition,” said Bryant.