My Background

Suffolk has been my home since 1996, when I moved here after graduating from Old Dominion University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and an emphasis in Exceptional Student Education. My professional career has been devoted to helping students succeed, particularly students who struggle academically or learn differently. Through the National Institute for Learning Development, I became a Level III Professionally Certified Educational Therapist (P.C.E.T.), and I later earned a Master of Education in Exceptional Student Education/Educational Therapy and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Southeastern University. Today, I continue serving students and families through my leadership in student support at Suffolk Christian Academy, drawing upon decades of experience working with students with learning disabilities, ADHD, reading and mathematics deficits, executive-function challenges, and other diverse learning needs.

For the past three and a half years, I have had the privilege of serving the citizens of the Holy Neck Borough on the Suffolk School Board, bringing that educational experience directly into governance. I have worked to bring meaningful change by consistently advocating for stronger student achievement, particularly for students with disabilities; greater fiscal transparency and accountability; stronger school-safety measures; parental rights; effective policy governance; and greater scrutiny of how taxpayer dollars are spent. I have been willing to ask difficult questions, challenge long-standing practices, request greater transparency, and vote according to what I believe best serves students, families, educators, and taxpayers—even when doing so has required standing apart from the majority.

My perspective is also shaped by being the mother of eight children who have been educated in Suffolk and by nearly three decades of working with students and families in this community. My husband and I believe parents have both the responsibility and the right to guide the education, values, and development of their children. During my School Board service, I have worked to ensure that parents are respected as essential partners in education, that classrooms remain focused on rigorous and effective instruction, and that policies and programs are evaluated according to whether they genuinely improve opportunities and outcomes for students. My educational background has also enabled me to bring particular attention to special education, literacy intervention, instructional quality, and the need to ensure that struggling students are not overlooked when division-wide averages improve.

After three and a half years on the Board, I remain convinced that meaningful improvement requires accountability, transparency, collaboration, courage, and an unwavering focus on students. Real change does not come from simply approving what has always been done; it comes from asking whether our policies, spending, instructional priorities, and governance practices are producing better results for the children we serve. I welcome your questions, ideas, and participation as we continue working together to strengthen Suffolk Public Schools. Please contact me at dawnmarie4schoolboard@gmail.com to begin a conversation about how we can continue building a school division where students achieve, educators are supported, parents are respected, and taxpayers can trust the decisions being made on their behalf.