Carlene H. Anderson

UWF degree and year of graduation:
BA Elementary Education 1975
Master in Education (Education Leadership) 1982

Why did you choose to attend UWF?
I had attended University of Southern Mississippi for two years and transferred to UWF when I relocated to the area.

What were your goals as a student?
For as long as I can remember, I had always wanted to be a teacher. I was fortunate enough to know exactly what I wanted when I entered the university system and never strayed from that mission. I have continued with that goal through my career having taught students, then in my role as principal, I taught teachers and now as superintendent, I supervise and guide administrators.

What is your best memory from your days at UWF?
My best memory was taking a childrens’ literature course from Dr. Agnew. I had never had a passion for reading, but children’s literature really opened up my eyes to a new area of the way children learn through reading. For example: Dr. Seuss’ books are fun for children, but what they really teach is life lessons; values and morals. Learning can be fun and Dr. Seuss did this well.

Who was your favorite professor and why?
My best memory for an undergraduate professor would be Dr. Agnew because she had a love for what she taught and conveyed that to each of her students. In the graduate program, it would be Dr. Limley who taught education legal issues. He was very direct and straight forward. He taught us the truth even when it was unpleasant to know. For instance, I learned that mediation can sometimes be better than litigation for cost effectiveness. Proving you’re right can sometimes be very expensive and not worth the fight.

What do you do now?
I am the current Walton County School District Superintendent. I wear many hats and basically the chief executive officer of the district. I am responsible for the day-to-day operations of the schools and the school district support systems. We have approximately 6,500 students and happen to be, geographically speaking, the sixteenth largest school district in the state. You have to know enough legalese in order to know the rights of employees, parent and students and make sure that they are never violated or neglected. The major responsibilities (goals) to the students of Walton County are first, to ensure a safe learning environment and second to improve student achievement. You can’t accomplish the second goal without the first.

How did UWF help you progress to this point?
UWF provided a satellite program where I could acquire my masters in educational leadership in DeFuniak Springs. The instructors traveled from the university to us. It was time prohibitive to commute to Pensacola while I was teaching in Walton County School District every day. UWF make it possible to obtain an advanced degree which became the catalyst to be where I am today. It was the vehicle to my career advancement.

Outside of working, what activities and organizations are you currently involved in and what are your hobbies?
I attend Chamber of Commerce events to stay connected to organizations outside of education. I also attend church, but due to work commitments, I have decreased my involvement to other civic organizations at this time. All of my time is devoted to making the most impact I can on students. My hobby is gardening…I love working in my flower beds.

How do you stay connected to UWF?
I stay connected mainly through the alumni newsletters. They are very informative.

What advice do you have to current and future UWF students?
No matter what your program or coursework you undertake at UWF, all the experiences you have will help you when you begin your career. For that reason, take advantage of everything that the university has to offer you. Something will come up twenty years later and you’ll be able to draw upon on those experiences and those people you have encountered along the way. Also, I would encourage students to listen to other people along the way. Over the years, individuals around me have encouraged me to strive for positions that I would not have considered on my own.

What quality makes UWF special or unique?
They reach out to students with their satellite locations. Because UWF is not a large university, it still has a personal touch and is very accommodating to its student population. Its focus is very student centered.

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