Each month we'll be featuring school board members in an effort to learn more about the wonderful individuals serving on our boards!

Synauri Boykin joined the Wilcox County school board in 2016 and became the youngest woman to serve on the board! She is master level in the School Board Member Academy and served on AASB's 2020 Equity Committee. Synauri's love for serving developed at a young age and she still enjoys being able to give back to the school system she was once a student of.

Read below to learn more about Synauri Boykin!

Give us some background on yourself. What is your current occupation?

I am a high school science teacher at Monroe County High School. I have been teaching for 14 years. I have been selected as Monroe County High School (MCHS) teacher of the year for the 2015-16 and 2019-20 school years. I have taught science for Coastal Alabama Community College Monroeville Campus Upward Bound since 2012 and African dance with Upward Bound since 2014.

I am a National STEM Certified Teacher and served on the 2015 Alabama State Science Textbook Committee. I have also been serving as one of MCHS's peer mentor coordinators since 2015. In addition, I am the owner of a small business, Sashay’s Sugar Scrubs, where I craft handmade natural skin and haircare products.

What inspired you to join the school board?

Being a product of Wilcox County, I wanted to serve my community with dignity, integrity, and dedication to make sound decisions for our students in Wilcox County. I felt like I could offer a multifaceted perspective to our board because I am a mother, educator and business owner. My daughters receive a quality education from Wilcox County Public Schools. 

My favorite part about being a school board member is...

Being readily accessible to hear the voices and concerns of students and my constituents. I also enjoy staying abreast of the ever-changing educational forecast through professional development.

One thing I've learned while being a board member is...

To let data drive your decisions, not emotions. Everyone won’t be pleased with the school board’s decision. 
 

What are some of your hobbies or interests?

I like hand-crafting hair and skin care products, dancing, facilitating exercise challenges and hot topics on social media. I love to inspire and encourage people to become the best versions of themselves and I love to eat!
  

What is a fun or interesting fact you would like to share about yourself? 

I am the youngest woman to serve on Wilcox County school board, joining the board at age 29. I am a 2005 graduate of Wilcox Central High School, and a 2009 graduate of Talladega College with a bachelor's in biology and minor in chemistry. In 2017 I graduated from the University of West Alabama with a Master of Arts in Teaching Biology and later earned a women's entrepreneurship certificate from Cornell University in 2021. 

I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and a human rights commissioner for the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative. Much of my leadership abilities and love for serving can be attributed to BAMA Kids/21st Century Youth Leadership Movement. This organization mentored me from childhood to adulthood to be a leader and a servant. All the glory goes to God!

Do you have a personal or professional motto/favorite quote?

"For the young people may run faster, but the elders know the way. We must work together."

African Proverb 

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