WIN Woman Spotlight & WIN Woman of the Year: Betty Norton

Spotlight

Jun 9

WIN Woman Spotlights showcase leaders from across the country/world who embrace the skill of negotiation and advocacy to break down barriers for women: women who are champions for female empowerment within her organization and/or in her personal life.

WIN Woman Spotlights feature women and community leaders whose work aligns with WIN’s mission of elevating more women into positions of leadership. Each Spotlight features women who inspire us as professionals and inspire future generations of women. Today, we would like to highlight our WIN Woman of the Year, Betty Norton.

Betty Norton

President of Education, Xceed preparatory academy

Our WIN Woman of the Year, Betty was nominated to receive this spotlight due to her tenacity to be a woman of action, who is transforming her personal and professional environment as well as our society. Read on to learn more about Betty, her inspiring work, and how she lives as a woman who lifts as she rises.

“Betty dedicated more than 20 years to public education where she taught middle school students and later concentrated on special populations included Gifted and Exceptions Student Education (ESE) classrooms and Title I schools. She has spent the last decade+ working in virtual and hybrid school settings and has been promoted multiple times in her school - from Head of School to Head of Xceed Anywhere to now, President of Education.
Betty's strong desire to help as many students as possible find and get the education they deserve traces back to her roots in working in Title I schools. She is not only an advocate for children, but also, as a proud Latina, an advocate to help more Latinx educators rise into academic administration.
Betty is truly remarkable, unflappable, kind and innovative. Her work ethic and drive are difficult to match, and any student, parent or educator who has the opportunity to interact with her, is made to feel like the most important person in the room.”

“Educators AND moms from around the world deserve to be recognized after all they've gone through in the last two years. But an educator who is also a mom who helped launch TWO major educational initiatives while still serving her community during a pandemic? That's a WIN Woman in my mind.”

We wanted to shine a light on Betty and ask her for her best piece of negotiation advice. Here’s what she had to say.

If I weren't doing this [President of Education] I would be...

…probably be working a compliance type position at the school district. This gig is MUCH better!

Three adjectives to best describe you:

Creative, Compassionate, Innovative

Words to live by:

Upwards and onwards.

Life presents challenges and triumphs, learn from each of them and focus on growing as a person. Then face the future with optimism and strength.

What actions do you take to help lift others?

Life is hard. Be kind to people. As humans, we just need to feel heard and seen. Be that person. Be present.

What event shaped your life's work and mission?

When I was in high school, my parents move from New Jersey to Florida. The transition was incredibly difficult facing adversity and racism. I did not have anyone to advocate for me at school. I went from straight As to being depressed and struggling. Years later, I found that I could be the advocate for students from different backgrounds, socio-economic status, and/or learning challenges and so I became just that.

What is your best negotiation tip?

Never be afraid to present an unorthodox idea. The number of times I have thought of a solution that was "out of the box" and I didn't share it, only to hear someone else suggest it later and be recognized for it? Too many. We need to lead by example and think of solutions for the many, not the one. Together we bring change.