Originally from Greenville, Mississippi, Dr. Tommy Nalls, Jr. holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tougaloo College. Initially an alternate route biology teacher in the Jackson Public School District, he earned master’s and specialist’s degrees from Mississippi College, later becoming an administrator in JPS. Dr. Nalls achieved his Doctorate in Educational Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction from Mississippi College during this time. As JPS’s Director of Recruitment, he has forged university partnerships, notably with William Carey University’s Alternate Route Teacher Certification program. Dr. Nalls coordinated the Performance-Based Licensure Program pilot and the Mississippi Teacher Residency Program with partnerships at Mississippi State University and Jackson State University. Currently, he is spearheading the establishment of a JPS Teacher Residency Program in collaboration with Jackson State University, focusing on supporting individuals pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education. Through engagement with the Change Collective, Dr. Nalls hopes to develop community support for the development of men of color as educators in early grades education.
