She received her bachelor's degree from North Carolina Central University majoring in Elementary Education; her master's degree from North Carolina Central University in Educational Media and Technology; a second master's degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Elementary Education. She received her terminal degree (Ph.D.) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Reading. She also holds a certification for the instruction of Academically Gifted students.