Theresa Hamilton earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education at Southern University in 1983 and a master’s degree in educational administration and Plus 30 at NSU in 2001. She was a teacher at NSU Middle Lab, Parks Elementary and Goldonna from 1983-2007, serving as principal at LP Vaughn Elementary until transferring to the Tangipahoa Parish School System from 2007-2016 where she served as chief academic officer, chief desegregation officer, supervisor of federal programs, principal at Hammond Eastside Upper Elementary and Martha Vineyard Elementary.
Hamilton joined the Louisiana Department of Education in 2016 serving for a year as Southern Network Educational Consultant. She is currently a senior program consultant for the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching.
Hamilton and her husband Alvin have been married 29 years. They have two children and one grandson.