Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Photo caption: Former teacher and current SFA first lady Kristi Weaver reads "The Giving Tree" to children ages 4 to 6 at the SFA Charter School. Photo by Lizeth Garcia
Kristi Weaver on Becoming SFA's First Lady
Story by Christine Broussard '10 & '20
While her official title at SFA is first lady, Kristi Weaver would likely tell any student she ran across to call her Momma Weaver.
She acquired the nickname in her previous position as Georgia Southwestern State University's first lady when her husband, now SFA's 11th president Dr. Neal Weaver, served in his first university presidential role. And it's a nickname she takes to heart — so much so she put it on her car's license plate.
"I know they're students, but in my heart, they're all my kids," Kristi said. "I feel my role is to be there for the students. I love to have conversations with them. I love to hear their stories, why they're here, what they're doing, how they're doing in class, and what they need help with."
The catch about her new role as SFA first lady? Her family has suddenly more than tripled, growing from GSW's approximately 3,000 students to SFA's almost 11,000.
"Neal and I are very student-oriented. I loved my time at Georgia Southwestern because I knew so many of the kids. So I'm now a bit stressed thinking, 'OK, how am I going to reach all these SFA kids?' But we will figure it out," Kristi said. "This first year is going to be a big learning curve, but I'm hoping we can get to know the students and let them get to know us. We want them to approach us; we want them to talk to us — we're just people."
Kristi received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and taught kindergarten after graduation. Though she left teaching to raise the couple's three kids, all her pursuits continued to support education.
"Once the boys went to school, I started working back in the elementary school as a liaison between the parents and staff," Kristi said. "I became president of the Parent Teacher Association and really figured out that fundraising was my passion. So, I went on to serve as executive director of the Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation, which would award grants for anything the teachers needed, and we raised about $50,000 a year to put back into the classrooms."
Kristi's passion for helping nonprofits led her to sit on many boards for such organizations as United Way, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Books for Sumter County, Backpacks for Kids and chambers of commerce in communities in which the Weavers lived.
Much like her husband, Kristi believes in the role college plays in developing the whole person. Students may come for an academic program, but they'll leave having learned lessons in team building, patience and — of incredible importance to the Weavers — community support.
"We're going to work hard getting our students involved. Not making them do it but helping them realize how important it is to give back. It makes you feel good," she said.
Encouraging student involvement is a joint effort the Weavers hold near and dear. As they approach their first year leading SFA into its next century, Kristi and Dr. Weaver already have plans for creating opportunities, like a student ambassador program, that would open new avenues for student involvement and personal growth.
They'll also be there to support each other as they get to know SFA and settle into their new roles as SFA president and first lady.
"Kristi is amazing in her own right, and she has been a part of this career, profession, journey for 35 years," Dr. Weaver said. "She gave up teaching to raise our kids. She's moved seven times. She's a great partner and a great fundraiser. She believes in what we do. She helps me in any number of ways that people I think know and probably appreciate but that nobody ever talks about. So, I hope everyone will understand that we do this together."