Verna has been a school administrator for the past 40 plus years. She is known for helping organizations and institutions create and foster a climate where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and respected. Verna has served as the vice principal of Five Oaks Middle School, the principal of Cedar Park Middle School, the principal of Montclair Elementary School and the K-12 Administrator for Counseling and Diversity for the Beaverton School District. She is a firm believer that all children deserve quality teachers—people who believe in them, who have the skills to help them learn and perform at high levels, and who are passionate and knowledgeable about what they teach.
In 1964, Ms. Bailey was the first African American female to enroll in undergraduate school at the University of Mississippi, where she earned a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology. She received an M.A. in Education from Lewis and Clark College and is completing a doctoral dissertation at Portland State University. Ms. Bailey grew up in Jackson, Miss., the daughter of nationally known civil rights activist Sam Bailey.Her family was friends with James Meredith, the first African-American student to attend the University of Mississippi, three years before Bailey. Her father worked closely with Medgar Evers, president of the NAACP. She also met with Martin Luther King, Jr. Â
Verna Bailey retired from school administration in 2013.
