Ann Henson earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and master’s degree in special education from UM in 1975 and ’76, respectively. Her career in early childhood education has spanned more than 40 years as she has coordinated efforts locally and across the state to advocate for the health, wellness and educational opportunities for all children in Mississippi.

She began her career at the Early Education Center in Jackson, teaching preschool children with developmental disabilities, and then served as state training coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. Most recently, Henson was an early childhood specialist for the University of Southern Mississippi’s Institute for Disability Studies, where she provided technical assistance to early childhood education professionals and child care providers to enhance the quality of learning experiences for all children. She retired from this position in 2017 after 12 years of service. Henson also served as the board president for the UM School of Education Alumni Advisory Board from 2014 to 2017.

“Ann has exemplified the highest service and works in both

her career, service and adult life. She has 41 years of distinguished experience in early childhood education including teaching, training and administering programs to enhance quality education for all children.” – Pamela Smith

At a Glance: 

• More than 40 years dedicated to early childhood education in Mississippi
• Served as state training coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health 
• Provided technical assistance to early childhood education professionals through the University of Southern Mississippi’s Institute for Disability Studies 
• Served as the board president for the UM School of Education Alumni Advisory board

Did you always want to go into special education? 

I was born in Eastland, Texas, and then a few years later my family and I moved to Mexia, Texas, for my dad’s job. My dad was a physician and he worked at Mexia State School which, back in the early 1950s, was an institution for the developmentally disabled. So, we lived on the grounds of the school in Mexia. When I was seven years old, we moved to Fort Myers, Florida, because my dad went to work at a state institution that was opening up in 1960 for the developmentally disabled. That’s where my passion for education began because I grew up around children with special needs and I wanted to make a difference in the lives of all children. 

Can you tell me more about your education path? 

I always wanted to be a teacher and make a difference in the lives of children especially those with special needs. When I was at Ole Miss there was no undergraduate degree in special education, so I chose elementary education. The early childhood classes that I took were actually through the Home Economics Department. The only way to graduate with a special education degree was to get a master’s degree, so that’s what I did. I went straight through and got my bachelor’s degree then started on my master’s. I taught early in my career at the Early Education Center, which was my first job. I started out teaching preschoolers and infants with developmental disabilities. The Early Education Center was actually in a house and the rooms in the house had been made into classrooms. So my first job was teaching infants and toddlers with disabilities and it was a federally funded program in Jackson. Then, I moved into the administration role and worked for the state of Mississippi in the Department of Mental Health. I coordinated training statewide. I was involved with different associations like the Cerebral Palsy Association, the Epilepsy Foundation of Mississippi, and others. Time and time again, every experience in my working career helped me do a better job helping young children with disabilities and their families. 

How did your education at UM help you in your career? 

I believe the education and social experiences I received at Ole Miss prepared me for my future.  I learned to be more effective with people and my education experience prepared me for actual experiences in the field, especially as it related to children with developmental disabilities and special needs. It is easy to recall both faculty and students at Ole Miss that had a direct impact on my life in a positive manner. I even met my husband during college, and we have two girls that both went to Ole Miss, as well. My goal was always to help improve the lives of young people and I think my time at Ole Miss helped me be able to make that happen and helped me be able to train other professionals to help prepare them for the field.

What advice do you have for graduating students?

Work hard both inside and outside of the classroom. Take your studies seriously while enjoying the Ole Miss experience. Give everything you do 100% of your effort because you will never know what opportunities are ahead of you until you give it a try. Take advantage of the educational opportunities that you’re given at Ole Miss. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

One thing that I used to say when I started any kind of training for teachers is the quote “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” I think that’s a quote that can be applied to any profession. It doesn’t matter if you’re in accounting or education or any other profession, but you really learn by doing. That can apply to everything from learning how to write your name to cooking a recipe to learning colors. I think that quote can apply to everyone.