Mary Thomas Newsom

Mary Thomas Newsom is President and CEO of Systems III, L.L.C. an educational consulting firm specializing in organizational development, keynote and motivational speaking, and training.  With over twenty-five years of professional experience, Mary has spent many of them providing consulting services.  In addition to running her own business, Mary provides professional services as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Senate Majority Leader in Maryland. 

Her experiences include, but are not limited to providing technical assistance in the areas of education, cultural diversity, strategic planning, effective communication, sexual harassment, team building and more. She has provided services to public and private organizations.  As a keynote and motivational speaker, Mary has presented at national, regional and local professional conferences and community sponsored events.  Her background is filled with experience in providing workshops and professional development for various schools, school districts and other professional entities such as:  the National Education Association, US Department of Agriculture, U. S. Department of Defense Education Activity, Spring Grove Hospital, Prince George?s County Community College, University of MD, Howard University, Delaware State University, Delaware NAACP and The Maryland State Teacher?s Association.  Mary has been a guest on radio talk shows and local television programs.

Mary has a Masters degree and has held various professional positions prior to forming her own consulting company.  She has worked as Senior Equity Program Director at the federally funded regional desegregation assistance center in Maryland where she provided technical assistance and consulting services throughout the mid-Atlantic region of the country.  She served in an administrative capacity as Equity Coordinator in a public school system in MD.  In this position Mary was instrumental in creating a collaborative partnership of agencies that resulted in the development of the first teen infant program at a high school in Anne Arundel County for teen parents and their children.  In addition to these positions Mary worked as a guidance counselor in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a Special Area Resource Teacher in Palm Beach County, Florida, and as a classroom teacher in Fairfax, Virginia, Prince George?s County, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.  She has two educational videos and is author of several educational documents and articles.  Her most recent publication is the Homework Survival Kit, a tool designed to help parents and students organize for learning at home.

Selected career accomplishments include serving as Vice President and President of the Maryland Association of Pupil Personnel Workers, and on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Pupil Personnel Workers.  Mary has been a member of the Anne Arundel County MD Children?s Council and was nominated for, Outstanding Young Woman Award.  As a former member, Mary volunteered with the National Black Child Development Institute as a ?Hill Watcher? to watch and build a broad base of support for the legislation affecting minority children.  Mary has held membership in various professional organizations including: The National Speaker?s Association, The National Alliance of Black School Educators, National Council of Negro Women, Inc., and Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.  She served as Board Liaison and Public Relations chairperson for her regional chapter of, National Speakers Association, in Washington, D. C.  Currently, Mary is Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Prince George?s County Branches and serves on the Board of Directors for EduSerc, a non-profit organization dedicated to the academic and career development of underprivileged youth.