Dr. Shonda Harris-Muhammed has served in public education for 30 plus years.
Currently she is the Director of Testing and Pupil Personnel in Southampton
County Schools where her focus is student performance and student wellness while
providing wraparound services for students and families who are facing housing
instabilities and for families in transition. She is a graduate of Norfolk State
University (BS Mathematics) and Walden University, (Doctor of Education and
Masters of Science). During her tenure in Southampton County Schools, Dr.
Harris-Muhammed, supervises business and community partnerships, the Jobs for
America Graduates grants and Teachers for Tomorrow grants.
Dr. Shonda currently serves on the Richmond School Board representing the Sixth
District. Dr. Shonda served as the Chair for the Richmond School Board in 2022
and she is a Charter Member and the current Executive Director of Black Women
Education Leaders, also known as BWEL, a national organization whose mission
is to bring together individuals to address issues related primarily to the concerns,
interests, advancement, accomplishments, and special contributions of
Black women in or aspiring to educational leadership. Dr. Shonda is an active
member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Dr. Harris-Muhammed, also affectionately known as Dr. HM, during her tenure as
a school board representative, also served on the Richmond Public Schools Head
Start Policy Council from 2022-2025. Serving closely with the Head Start
Regional Office for Richmond Public Schools, the Policy Council, and with the
Richmond Public Schools Early Childhood team has allowed Dr. HM to obtain
direct and hands on training regarding the following: Federal Head Start
regulations, building policy and bylaws that follow the Head Start regulations,
support the heart work of the Head Start program, and working closely with the
Head Start team on building a solid program for all students who qualify regardless
of their zip code.
Since 2008, Dr. Shonda has provided free school supplies to families and teachers
in the Richmond area through her nonprofit Northside Coalition for Children, Inc.
In August, her nonprofit completed 17 years of service to the community. Dr.
Shonda is the Co-Author of The Unvoiced Pain: Releasing Depression and
Anxiety. A book she coauthored with 8 other women who through life have fought
depression, anxiety, and other forms of trauma. Living her best life and in Dr.
Shonda style, she resides in North Richmond with her college sweetheart,
Demetrius. They have been together for thirty years. They have two children,
Anthony (Tony) and her soror and legacy Khadijah, (Baby Boo).