Rosalyn Griffin and her family have a lifetime invested in the Clarksdale Municipal School District.
Griffin, a 1992 Clarksdale High School graduate, was named the CMSD human resources director effective last July 1. The position had been vacant for several years before Griffin was named human resources director. She began as an intern in the CMSD in the late 1990s where she was a counselor. After relocating to Memphis, Tenn., and working in the Shelby County school system, Griffin came back to Clarksdale in 2007. She returned to the CMSD in 2015 as the school counselor. She prepared Clarksdale High School seniors for graduation and worked with JW Stampley 9th Grade Academy students to help them focus on what they wanted to do as they came into the high school arena. Then she was promoted in July.
“Of course, I learned the true sense of community by Clarksdale being a small town and everybody kind of banning together and using the resources that they had,” said Griffin of her days as a student in the CMSD. “So I did learn that team spirit and collectiveness. I received the best education.”
Superintendent Dr. Earl Joe Nelson praised Griffin’s dedication to her job.
“Rosalyn inspires others through her work, sets the bar high, leads by example, and shows everyone that hard work works,” Nelson said.
The commitment to the CMSD extends to Griffin’s family. Her husband of 20 years, Darron, is a 1989 Clarksdale High School graduate and played tight end and defensive end on the football team. Griffin herself was a cheerleader at WA Higgins Middle School and Clarksdale High School. She also served as president of her high school class.
Rosalyn and Darron’s son, Darron Jr., 15, is a sophomore at Clarksdale High School. Their daughter, Mary Morgan, 11, is in sixth grade at Oakhurst Intermediate Academy.
Griffin earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish from Southern Miss in 1995, a master’s of education in school counseling from Delta State University in 1999, a specialist in education from Delta State in 2002 and a specialist in education with a focus on psychometry from Jackson State in 2020.
Psychometrists administer and score neuropsychological, psychological, personality and academic tests for patients with mild to severe traumatic brain injury, neurological diseases, psychological health issues or learning disabilities, or for psychological or neuropsychological research.
Griffin is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). That is the premier counseling board certification. Earning board certification demonstrates that one has voluntarily met high national standards for the practice of counseling.
“I was held to the highest standards of counseling,” Griffin said. “The code of ethics is similar to that of our other counselors, but actually the state of Mississippi is offering incentives for counselors who are national board certified. I think I was the only national board certified counselor in the Clarksdale Municipal School District so that gave me an extra incentive in terms of pay. It was an additional $10,000.”
Griffin is certified to work in school counseling in any state.
“I could work anywhere, but I’m choosing to be here,” Griffin said.
As a student in the CMSD, Griffin gained what she needed from school counselors, but also saw the position could provide the students much more.
“The reason why I looked into counseling is I remember an experience that I had as a student at Clarksdale High School,” Griffin said. “I really didn’t feel like I was adequately prepared for life after high school. When I went on in my adult life and discovered all of the things that were out there, then I felt like I needed to introduce students to the world beyond high school.
“They provided me with what I needed in terms of counseling, but there were so many more things out there. I could have been a little bit more prepared in terms of the ACT and I saw the importance of it after I left Clarksdale.”
Griffin is using some of those counseling skills as human resources director to make sure employees are happy. She has already hit the ground running.
“Since I have been here, last time I looked, I have hired and processed 121 people in 90 days,” Griffin said.
Plans as Human Resources Director
Coming into a position that has been vacant was unusual for Griffin. Human resources duties were divided up between several CMSD employees until Griffin’s promotion in July.
“It was a different kind of transition,” Griffin said. “A lot of hard work had to go into it, a lot of researching and just trying to make this position better. I definitely came to this position because I wanted to help the employees. I wanted to make sure that they were happy. I also wanted to attract highly qualified educators to the district because, like I said, our students deserve the best.
“No, it is not easy, charting a new course, creating new paths, and going where no one has gone before. My mantra is keep moving, growing, and learning to keep the organization viable and relevant and sow seeds in the community.”
What has made things a little easier is Griffin and Nelson are on the same page of trying to improve the CMSD.
“Dr. Nelson definitely has a vision,” Griffin said. “I can see the change that he wants to bring to the district. It’s definitely for the betterment of the employees, for the students and just for the community. Because we have to remember everything really starts with education.”
Griffin will be trying to recruit math and science teachers.
“I definitely take a look at the staffing needs that the district has as a whole,” Griffin said. “I try to advertise those positions and put the best individuals in those positions so that they can bring a new light to the district. I know one of the critical needs we have, of course, are math and science.”
She said she will be making sure the needs of every CMSD employee are met.
“Our district is composed of lots of different positions, not just those that are directly with education, but the classified employees are just as important as the certified employees,” Griffin said.
“Of course, if they’re happy, they’re going to stay. It’s my job to kind of just work with the employees and make sure they get what they need while they’re here in the district.”
Griffin said having a human resources director will make meeting the needs of employees easier.
“It definitely helps,” Griffin said. “At first, the tasks that I have that I am charged to do were divvied up between a lot of different individuals because there was not a human resource director for some time. So just kind of mainstreaming all of that and bringing it into my office, I can make sure that the needs are being met. And then I am actually going back and just taking evaluation, just trying to see if what I’m doing is effective. And, if not, make the changes that are necessary so that we can retain employees.”
The recruiting process is underway and Griffin is looking forward to promoting Clarksdale.
“I have an opportunity to visit a lot of the college and career fairs that are at our surrounding universities to try to encourage students after they graduate to come to Clarksdale,” Griffin said. “I also do a little marketing and show the incentives and the benefits from being in Clarksdale. There are lots of things that Clarksdale has that are positive that would encourage people.”
The goal is for good employees to remain in the district and recruit productive employees at the same time.
“Of course, if the employees come in and they’re happy, they’re going to be willing to tell their story,” Griffin said. “So I think their stories would also help us get other employees to come over to this district.”
Griffin said she plans to interview some of the happy employees and ask them to be part of the marketing campaign for recruiting individuals to work for the CMSD during the 2022-23 school year.
Griffin attends CMSD functions regularly including sporting events.
“It’s important to show our presence in the community,” Griffin said. “Like I said, education is kind of the root of all. Of course, we have lots of stakeholders. It’s important that we as stakeholders in education and the community sit down and talk about it. That’s the only way we’re going to make Clarksdale better if we all come to the table. When I go to games whether they’re here in Clarksdale or whether they’re away, I’m always trying to tell Clarksdale’s story so I can get other people to come on board.
“I would actually say Clarksdale is a phenomenal place to live. There is definitely a sense of togetherness. We know that we are not where we want to be, but we are definitely making a concerted effort to get there. You won’t find a place like Clarksdale. By me being from Clarksdale, I’ve chosen to come back to Clarksdale. I could have been anywhere in the world, but Clarksdale is definitely where I think I belong.”
Griffin shows her community pride whether she is working or off the clock.
“I would tell people that Clarksdale is a great place to live if you don't like a fast pace,” Griffin said. “The people are genuinely nice and will ban together to work for the good of the community. We have some very talented people that started here in Clarksdale. For example, one of my personal mentors, Dr. Eurmon Hervey grew up right across the street from me in Riverton and attended Clarksdale High School. Dr. Hervey later became a graduate of Harvard University. I talk to him and so many others that are willing to reach back and help make our community become a better place. It goes to show you that no matter where you may go, Clarksdale will always be in their hearts.”
But the human resources position is more than selling Clarksdale and keeping employees happy. It also involves making policies.
The COVID pandemic caused Griffin to develop new policies.
“The district has handled it (COVID) fairly well,” Griffin said. “There was no manual when COVID. It affected not only this district, but other districts and the world. Right now, we’re really big on trying to help our students with the learning loss that happened.”
Griffin said the CMSD is happy with its recent state test scores, but there is work to be done to improve the students’ learning. Attendance policies have been implemented to help the students during COVID.
“We have developed a couple of policies as it relates to COVID regarding attendance,” Griffin said. “There were lots of things we had to go back and look at in our policies so that we could put things in place as a result of COVID.”
Griffin believes the CMSD is headed in the right direction.
“We’re in the making,” she said. “We’re definitely putting the right people in the right places so that we can move forward. It takes a concerted effort. It’s going to take everyone and I think that everyone is on board and they’re willing to strap up their boots and make it happen for the district.”
Griffin believes with employees in the right places, the CMSD can receive an A grade from the Mississippi Department of Education in the next five years.
“I do have the faith,” Griffin said. “We have highly qualified individuals that are here. They’re pouring their hearts into the students. They’re definitely being creative and innovative and getting the skills taught. When it’s time for the students to perform, I think they’ll do just that.”
The most recent grade was an F, but that was prior to the pandemic and Nelson taking over as superintendent.
Community involvement
Griffin’s desire to make her community better goes well beyond the CMSD.
She worked at a medical clinic for a former member of the Coahoma County Board of Supervisor shortly after coming back to Clarksdale in 2007.
“I worked in healthcare,” Griffin said. “I did that for about eight years. I was director of operations and human resources at my previous job. I worked at a medical clinic here in Clarksdale. I also was director of constituent services and policy. I did that under a former Supervisor here in Clarksdale.”
Griffin taught human anatomy and chemistry at Coahoma Agricultural High School in 2014 before coming back to the CMSD.
She is the immediate past president and now first vice president of Clarksdale Marks Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. During her tenure as president of the sorority, she was a recipient of the Dr. Yvonne Kennedy Leadership award. It is an award given in honor of a Past National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority who showcased phenomenal leadership abilities.
Griffin is the immediate past president of Mississippi Delta Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
As president of the Mississippi Delta Chapter of The Links, Incorporated the chapter was awarded a $750,000 grant to work with students to increase state test and ACT scores of students in the CMSD. In this program, students were introduced to the ACT as early as eighth and ninth grade. Several students scored a 20 their first time taking the assessment.
Griffin also services on the Quality of Life Commission with the city of Clarksdale and was recently appointed to the local Boys & Girls Club board.
Griffin ran for Coahoma County Circuit Clerk in 2011 and barely lost.
“I am from a small family in Clarksdale,” Griffin said. “My father might be the reason I showed some interest in politics, but both my parents and grandparents instilled in me the importance of education. Most of my mentors were my former teachers and happen to members of some of the same organizations which I am involved in. My husband and I are very involved in community service organizations.”
Griffin’s passion for Clarksdale is part of the reason she is very active in her community.
“Clarksdale means a lot to me,” Griffin said. “I’m a product of the Clarksdale Municipal School District. I left here, went to Memphis and worked in the school system and there were a lot of things going on. They were very much advanced as compared to the system in Clarksdale that I just recently left. And I was pouring my heart into that particular job and I said, ‘Hey, why can’t I do this where I came from? They deserve better. They deserve the best.’ So I returned home and started working in the community.”
Griffin was involved in her community as a child.
She was in the housing projects "Eastgate Gardens."
“I went to work at the age of 16 at Popeyes as a biscuit cook,” Griffin said. “I worked multiple jobs to put myself through college. Some of which include Region I Mental Health Center as a program developer, Coahoma Community College Upward Bound program as a tutor/counselor and in the office of Dr. Otha Williams Jr. as a medical office assistant. I also learned about the Americorp program where I served as a community volunteer for two years. AmeriCorp was an avenue for me to continue serving the communities throughout the Delta”
Griffin will always be an integral part of the community in Clarksdale.
“I’m real big on community service,” Griffin said.
“I’m going to always be somewhere around children trying to pour into them so that they can come back or stay here and help the community to grow.”
Advancement of women
Griffin has not had any problems as a woman in the workplace.
“Women have come a long way,” Griffin said. “I do not feel that there are really any challenges. I feel that we are created just as equal as anyone else. It’s never been a problem. I’m a people person. I can work with anyone.”
Griffin acknowledged at one time being a female in the workplace could have been an issue.
“Maybe 50 years ago, it might have been a little different, but hey, we have a female Vice President,” Griffin said. “One day we’ll probably have a female President and I can’t wait to see that happen.”
