A resident of Newark, Speight graduated from Lincoln University with a Master of Arts in Human Services. An officer in the Essex County Sheriff's Office, Speight was first elected to the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board in 2007, and served as the board's vice chair from 2007 to 2012. She was an aide to Senator Teresa Ruiz from 2009 to 2010."Speight Sworn in to Represent 29th Legislative District", Assembly Democrats press release dated January 8, 2018. Accessed January 18, 2018.
