Unified partnership with San Diego State for education doctorate degrees in administration .
This will be her third college degree . She earned her undergraduate degree in English from Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins , Texas and her master ’ s degree in education from Texas Southern University in Houston .
She chose to attend Jarvis Christian because her grandparents had met in Hawkins and had connections to the college , with dorms named for her grandfather and grandmother .
After receiving her master ’ s degree , Hargrove-Brown taught English learners in Texas for several years and then returned to her hometown of Stockton , where she had been raised by her mom , Carmen Dockery , and grandmother , Zera Dockery . She considers both her “ inspiration and mentors .”
After her grandmother died , she and her mom joined an aunt in Fresno in 2001 . Her aunt is Janetta McGensy , the principal at Baird Middle School for 13 years before retiring , and a role model for Hargrove-Brown when she was younger . Under McGensy ’ s leadership , Baird earned the Distinguished School designation from the California Department of Education .
Her first job in Fresno was as the vice principal and curriculum director for the brand-new Carter J . Woodson Charter School . In 2002 , she left for Fresno Unified , wanting to make a bigger impact . She taught at Fort Miller Middle School , followed by Cooper Middle School ( now Cooper Academy ), Sequoia Middle School as a guidance learning advisor , back to Cooper as vice principal , DeWolf High School as vice principal , J . E . Young Academic Center as vice principal , a vice principal on
Terronez Middle School Principal Zerina Hargrove-Brown poses with students in the African American Achievement for Females Leadership course .
special assignment overseeing districtwide projects , and then Terronez .
Teaching and leading schools has allowed her to serve her community .
“ I couldn ’ t just do a regular job . I had to be a change agent ,” Hargrove Brown said . “ I have to stretch myself . I have to feel like I ’ m learning and growing .”
38 BUILDING FUTURES : ZERINA HARGROBE-BROWN