Jessica Graves brings extensive education and HR experience to White Plains

Jessica Graves is bringing a philosophy built around listening, responsiveness and building strong relationships with employees to her new role as Director of Human Resources for the White Plains City School District.

Ms. Graves comes to White Plains from the Mount Vernon City School District, where she most recently served as Associate Superintendent for Human Resources.

Her career in education began as a teaching assistant for a nonprofit organization, followed by work as a special-education teacher in Mount Vernon. She later became a civil service employee as a personnel associate, was promoted to Commissioner for Human Resources and eventually became Associate Superintendent.

Her interest in education developed long before she made it a career. 

Ms. Graves said she always enjoyed school and helping classmates, and she spent about seven years tutoring children with special needs before becoming a teacher. Her path toward human resources was influenced by an HR professional she encountered while working full time for Wells Fargo Financial before graduate school.

“I just vividly remember a human resource professional and how professional she was, how engaging and empathetic,” Ms. Graves said. “She just really was someone I looked up to.”

The experience ultimately helped her see a way to combine two interests: human resources and public education.

Ms. Graves earned her bachelor’s degree from Spelman College and a Master of Public Administration in Human Resources from Drake University. She also earned a Master of Professional Studies in Childhood and Students with Disabilities from Manhattanville and completed her school district leadership certification at Molloy University.

She said White Plains’ reputation, diversity and opportunities for students all attracted her to the position, as did the professionalism of its staff and the district’s investment in its schools.

“I’ve just always heard great things about the staff and how students and families are welcomed,” she said. “I just really want to be part of a great district.”

Ms. Graves sees HR as much more than the office that handles hiring and personnel matters. Because the office is often among a candidate’s first points of contact with a district, she believes it has an important responsibility to make people feel welcome from the beginning.

That relationship should continue throughout an employee’s career, she said, with staff knowing they have people they can turn to for accurate information, assistance and a listening ear. Supporting employees’ professional growth and giving them reasons to build their careers in the district are equally important.

“The district invests in employees and employees will invest in the district by staying and continuing to grow as professionals,” Ms. Graves said, adding that visibility and collaboration will be among her priorities.

She describes herself as a leader who trusts the people around her rather than micromanaging them. She said she believes in leading by example, providing guidance and support and giving employees room to solve problems independently, while making sure they know she is available when needed.

Ms. Graves also makes time for interests away from work. She is a “dog mom” to a 7-year-old golden retriever, enjoys reading and watercolor painting and hopes to do more traveling. She is also considering picking up the viola again, an instrument she played when she was younger.

As she settles into the WPCSD, she hopes employees and the community will come to know her as someone who is approachable, dependable and resourceful.

“If you have a question, I’ll always try my best to answer it or to find someone who does have the answer and get back to you. I really pride myself on being resourceful,” she said, adding:  “I have a heart for this work.”