Dr. Felicia Adams has 30 years of experience in urban education and a proven track record in school improvement. She has served as a teacher, teacher trainer, instructional supervisor, curriculum manager, elementary and secondary principal, School Support Officer, Officer of Academic Instructional Technology, Area Superintendent before serving in her current role as Superintendent at Southwest Public Schools in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Adams is well known for driving exceptional student achievement and school transformation. As an elementary and secondary principal, she achieved double-digit student growth in reading, math, science, and social studies, with notable gains at the Masters level. Her schools earned distinctions in reading, math, and closing the achievement gap, with her middle school named a Texas Honor Roll School and advancing from #12 to #2 in the Children at Risk rankings. Dr. Adams also garnered recognition as Houston ISD Secondary Principal of the Year and an HEB Excellence in Education Award winner.
As Houston ISD Area Superintendent, Dr. Adams spearheaded significant improvements, with 91% of struggling campuses meeting TEA accountability standards in one year. She led the Achieve 180 Turnaround plan, impacting 42,000 students and over 2,000 educators, and developed innovative instructional continuity plans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transitioning to the superintendency at Southwest Public Schools, she elevated the district from a C to a B state accountability rating within a year.
Dr. Adams holds degrees from LSU, Texas Southern University, and a doctorate from UT Austin. Her numerous honors include the Nolan Estes Excellence in Leadership Award, Top 5 Children at Risk ranking, and Title I Distinguished Performance Award. Most recently, Dr. Adams was recognized by the Houston Rockets as a Game Changer of the Month for her dedication and service to the Houston Community for the past three decades.
