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Dr. Brenda Coley is the sixth child of Adell and Lula Mae Johnson. She was born and raised in Hurtsboro, Alabama, and is a 1984 graduate of Russell High School. Committed to academic excellence, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Mathematics from Auburn University in 1988. In 1994, she received a master's degree from Troy University. Continuing her pursuit of advanced scholarship, she earned an Education Specialist degree from Troy State University in 1997. A lifelong learner, Dr. Coley completed her Doctor of Education in Administrative Leadership from Walden University in 2015. 

Dr. Coley has dedicated approximately 37 years to the Russell County Board of Education, demonstrating sustained instructional and executive leadership. Her career began as a classroom teacher at Russell Elementary School in Hurtsboro, Alabama. She later transferred to Ladonia Elementary School, where she served twelve years as a teacher and four years as Assistant Principal.

Following sixteen successful years at Ladonia Elementary, Dr. Coley was appointed Principal of Oliver Elementary School in Seale, Alabama, where she served for nine years. Under her leadership, Oliver Elementary achieved state recognition for exceeding Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) goals, implemented a model Pre-K program, expanded Fine Arts initiatives, strengthened curriculum rigor, increased extracurricular opportunities and student incentives, and secured competitive grants to enhance classroom technology, playground equipment, healthy snack programs, and research-based instructional materials.

In 2014, she was named Director of Administrator Services. On October 1, 2015, Dr. Coley was appointed Superintendent of the Russell County School District, where she continues to provide strategic leadership focused on academic achievement, fiscal responsibility, and organizational excellence. 

Dr. Coley’s professional achievements have been recognized through numerous honors, including the Home Town High Achiever Award (2012), the Outstanding Educator Award presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Phenix City Branch, 2013), the Russell County School District Excellence Award (2016), the Courier Eco Latino Community Service Award (2017), the Sammie Lee Vann Darty

Educational Foundation Blazer Award (2021), the Freedom Farm Service Award (2022), the Chattahoochee Valley Community College Hall of Fame Distinguished Award (2022), the Alabama State Department of Education District 4 Superintendent of the Year Award (2022), Point of Lights Award (2024), Alabama High

School Athletic Association (AHSAA) “Making a Difference” Award – Class 6A (2024), East Alabama Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Award(2024), School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) Service Award (2025) and MLK Educator Award (2025) .

Dr. Coley maintains active membership in the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA), American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and the Rho Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in Columbus, Georgia.

Grounded in strong faith and spiritual leadership, Dr. Coley is a devoted member of Total Man Ministries in Columbus, Georgia, where she serves on the Praise and Worship Team, as a Youth Advisor, and on the Pastor Aide Committee.

Her life philosophy remains: “Give to the world the best that you have, and the best will come back to you.”