My Background

In 1996, I moved to Suffolk after graduating from Old Dominion with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. In 2003, I began working as a third-grade teacher at a Christian school in Suffolk. It was very rewarding watching students grow as learners, and especially rewarding when working with students that were struggling learners. My background in Interdisciplinary Studies included an emphasis on Exceptional Student Education. In 2007, I found a program that provides certification for working with struggling learners called the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD).  There are three levels (I, II, and III) that NILD certifies individuals interested in becoming educational therapists.  My NILD training led me to become a Level III, Professionally Certified Educational Therapist (P.C.E.T.). While training to become a P.C.E.T. NILD therapist, I have worked with many struggling students with diverse disability needs (LD, ADHD, reading deficits, math deficits, executive function deficits, and students on the autism spectrum) to provide them with individualized intervention.

 

Next, I attended Southeastern University and received a master's degree in Exceptional Student Education in Educational Therapy.  After completing my M.Ed I pursed a doctorate in education at Southeastern University’s Doctoral program, and received my doctorate in organizational leadership.  Currently, I am the Student Support Supervisor for Suffolk Christian Academy (SCA) where all eight of my children have attended or are still Attending. Five of my adults children have graduated SCA and my three younger children are still attending. My five adult children are either graduated from or currently attending college to include (two daughters have who graduated from Va. Tech., one daughter who is currently attending Radford,  another daughter who is currently attending William and Mary, a son currently attending Old Dominion University.  My three younger children who currently attend SCA include, a son in 4th, a daughter in 6th, and another daughter in 7th.   

 

Like most parents, it is important to my husband and I that our children develop the values and beliefs that we feel are essential for them to mature into involved, engaged, and productive citizens of our great city, state, and nation.  Unfortunately, the values and beliefs that parents want to be instilled in their children are currently under attack at every juncture.  Values and beliefs are changing so drastically that SPS parents find it impossible to support the narratives and ideologies that SPS is seeking to indoctrinating into students.  Here is where the line in the sand needs to be drawn, and where it is the responsibility of the SPS school board to ensure that what is taught in the classroom is efficacious.

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I welcome your questions and input! For SPS to move forward successfully, there must be an environment of collaboration that promotes open and honest discussion with school employees, school board members, and all stakeholders involved with SPS. Please email me at dawnmarie4schoolboard@gmail.com to begin a conversation on how we can partner together to become the force of change that SPS students need to gain the academic dividends for years to come.