Dare County Schools

Dare County Schools

Dawn Edwards, Exceptional Children Lead Teacher/Department Chair is Dare County Schools 2010 Exceptional Children Teacher of Excellence in the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Exceptional Children Division annual recognition program.  Edwards, a National Board Certified Teacher, holds a masters in learning disabilities from East Carolina University, and has more than three decades of experience in the field. She was named First Flight High School Teacher of the Year for 2009-2010. She is the Behavioral Specialist for the district, and a trainer for the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention model that is held as best practice throughout the state.

Edwards is an outspoken champion for inclusion. She has developed and implemented new programming, including an EC alternative program within the school, summer programs for rising eighth graders, and high school remediation. She has the backbone in building Dare County's strong inclusion program where regular educators and special educators are truly co-teaching, and introducing a school-wide in-service format for informing teachers of modifications and accommodations for students with identified needs - all with the goal of diversifying instruction to meet the needs of all students.

Because of her broad work experience  - working with students from kindergarten through twelfth grades in resource, separate and co-taught settings in both regular and alternative programming in inner-city as well as rural areas - Edwards is the go-to person for teachers searching for strategies to meet the needs of hard to reach students.  George Graham, Director of Exceptional Children's Program for Dare County recognizes Edwards' value to the success of her students and her colleagues, noting that "Edwards is a vital asset to our team."

Edwards has a new assignment this year, and is working at Dare County Alternative School. 

courtesy photo