Dr. Y. Jayne McCullough is a native Houstonian, a member of one of the pioneering families that settled in the historic Fifth Ward during the early 1900s, a product of the Houston Independent School District, and a retired educator with over 39 years of experience. After graduating from Phillis Wheatley High School in 1968, with honors, she obtained several degrees from Texas Southern University (TSU): the Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education, the Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education, and the Doctor of Education in Educational Administration and Mid- Management (with certification). While attending TSU, she honored her family’s legacy by becoming a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Dr. McCullough retired from the Houston Independent School District (HISD) where she first served as a secondary Career and Technical educator. This was followed by 14 years of service as an administrator for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department at HISD where she served in the following capacities: Curriculum Development Coordinator, Curriculum Development and Professional Development Manager, and Supervising Manager. While serving in the position of Supervising Manager of the CTE Department, her passion, insight, and vision enabled her to lead the Department is a new direction. Her overall educational philosophy rests on the premise that student achievement and student retention levels increase when theory and hands-on instruction are taught collaboratively in instructional settings. She also worked tirelessly with career and technical teachers and staff members to increase the number of industry certifications that these individuals had. This allowed each student who studied under these teachers to graduate from high school with both a diploma and industry certification(s) concomitantly.
As an outcome of her years of educational administrative experience, Dr. McCullough is the founder of OMS Education Consultants that promotes career pathways, curriculum integration, and career and technical education. As needed, OMS Education Consultants works in a collaborative manner with Ron Johnson and Associates, Chartwell Education Group, and other consulting companies.
Further complementing her years of educational experience is the fact that Dr. McCullough is also the founder and CEO of KEW (Knowledge-Education-Work) Learning Academy, a 501 (3) (c) non-profit organization. The broad purpose/objective/vision of the Academy is “Developing Lifelong Learners” while its overall goal is to enhance the economic status of local community residents by enabling them to meet the workforce challenges of the 21st century. KEW Academy partners with other community based non-profit and for-profit organizations to provide a variety of engaging educational and mentoring programs, workshops, and classes to accomplished this goal. A specific mission of the organization is to improve academic achievement and career development opportunities in S.T.E.A.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Arts, and Mathematics) through the provision of engaging experiences via a variety of community, church, and educational networks.
In 2014, Dr. McCullough co-founded the Historic Wheatley/E. O. Smith Preservation Coalition as a grass-roots effort to help ensure the legacy of Phillis Wheatley High School in the history of Houston. At this time, the Coalition is a component of the Phillis Wheatley Metropolitan Alumni and Ex-Students Association in which both co-founders have been active for many years. The Coalition is involved in various preservation projects related to Phillis Wheatley High School and the communities that support it.
As an active member of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church as well as other professional and social organizations in the Greater Houston Community, Dr. McCullough displays her love and service for God by seeking out opportunities to educate the underserved citizens in the Houston Community.