Michelle “Mickie” Leigh Abiyou received her doctor of philosophy degree in education last month from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her dissertation was titled, “Stress and the Resiliency of Teachers.”
Dr. Abiyou resides in Houston with her husband, Sintayehu. She teaches first grade Houston Elementary School and graduated from HHS.
“I would like to dedicate my dissertation work to my mother, Pat Henderson,” she said. “The unconditional love and support you have given has been indescribable. You were the rock that built my foundation, the one who believed in me, cheering from the sidelines. Your silent whispers from heaven encouraged and pushed me through this journey. Your legacy lives on, through me.
“I would also like to dedicate this dissertation to my husband, Sintayehu Abiyou. I could not have done this without your love and support. You are the better half to our whole.”