Danita Bailey-Samples, Professor


Primary Research Focus

  • Urban school improvement, diversity, and best practices in schools and classroom

Professional Biography

Dr. Danita Bailey-Samples   holds a baccalaureate degree from Fisk University, an M.A. degree from George Peabody College for Teachers (currently Vanderbilt-Peabody University) and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from The University Of Texas at Austin. She has served in various roles with numerous public and private entities. These include teacher in Dayton, Ohio and Houston, Texas, Department Chairperson in Spring Branch I.S.D., Director of Educational Services at Spring Shadows Glen and the West Oaks and HCA Houston Hospital Systems and Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston. She also served as the Academic Enhancement Administrator, Director Of University Scholars and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling at Prairie View A&M University; and Senior Coordinator Of Training and Professional Development at The Texas A&M University System for The Regents’ Initiative of The Texas A&M University System, heading a noted faculty development initiative with all nine universities within this system.

She is currently a Professor at Texas Southern University and previously served as the chair for the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations, the Director of Certification and the Director of The Center For The Development and Study of Effective Pedagogy For African American Learners (CPAL). Additionally, she has received several grants for research and program development.

Dr. Bailey has co-authored several books including Restorative Discipline Practices: A Journey in Implementation by A Community of Texas Educators, The Impact of Demographic Variables and Music Participation on the Reading Achievement of Secondary Students, A+Strategies and Practices For Passing The Principal TExES, and Cultural And Educational Excellence Revisited Knowing, Doing, Being and Becoming as Though Saving The African American Child Matters. She published her research study “Identifying Effective Classroom and Building Practices That Increase the Academic Performance of Students in Schools With Complex Student Populations.” The second phase of this research project was published in “Identifying School Conditions And Teacher Practices That Have Proven Effective In Increasing Mathematics And Reading Achievement For African-American Students In Schools With Substantial Minority Student Populations.” She also co-authored “Cultural Performances of Americans of African Descent: Using Indicators of Social Progress as Measures of Qualities of Life.” Other research includes “At-Risk Parents: Developing Partnerships—Techniques And Strategies,” and “The Proficiency Of The Masters In Education Certification Program’s Practices And Instruction For Leadership And ExCET Examination Preparation.”

Courses taught include School Public Relations, Instructional Leadership, Internship, Externship, Organizational, and Management Theory, Advanced Seminar In Educational Administration, Personnel Administration, Fundamentals Of Educational Administration, and Theory, Practice and Research. She has also chaired numerous dissertation committees.

Dr. Bailey-Perry is a certified school administrator, supervisor and superintendent in the state of Texas. She is a frequent presenter to national organizations, a noted researcher, a successful grant writer and an active participant in community and university service.

Dr. Bailey heads her own consulting firm, Focus Development, where she is a successful consultant and motivational speaker, providing over 500 inspirational workshops on a variety of topics to parents, teachers, administrators, students and business professionals.

Dr. Bailey is a certified school administrator, supervisor and superintendent in the state of Texas. She is a frequent presenter to national organizations, a noted researcher, a successful grant writer and an active participant in community and university service.

Courses Taught

  • EDAS 532 – School Public Relations
  • EDAS 541 – Curriculum Planning and Development
  • EDAS 675 – Instructional Leadership and Management
  • EDAS 781 – Internship I
  • EDAS 782 Internship II
  • EDAS 842 – Externship
  • EDAS 880 – Human Resources Leadership and Management
  • EDAS 973 Leadership Seminar
  • EDAS 988 – Advanced Seminar in Educational Administration
  • EDAS 985 – Advanced Seminar in Supervision
  • EDAS 935 – School Administrative Hierarchy
  • EDAS 950 School and the Community
  • EDAS 999 Dissertation

Academic Degrees

  • Ph.D. The University Of Texas at Austin
  • M.A. George Peabody College For Teachers, 1972
  • B.A. Fisk University
  • Also attended University Of Abidjan, Abidjan, Ivory Coast