Dawn McKernan Lower School

1. Dawn R. McKernan Candidate for Lower School Director Cape Fear Academy February 18, 2013

2. Beliefs…. School leaders must create a culture that focuses on the needs of students. • All children can be high achieving—and all students should show measurable growth. • Children should be nurtured, supported, praised, and recognized for their unique talents. • School leaders are accountable to ensure a high climate of success, respect, and responsibility. • Transparency, openness, and two-way communication are critical to communication. • Hard work and effort should be valued. • Teaching mustreflect the needs of the technologically-advanced, future-ready, digitally-literate, Millennial generation.

3. Promoting HIGH ACHIEVEMENT… • School leaders must promote: • “Children-First” Decision Making • Proven Research-Based Instruction and Methodologies • 21st Century Learning Experiences • Futuristic Mindset—What Does the Class of 2025 Need to be Successful? • World Class Learning Opportunities • Powerful and Engaging Academic Experiences • Meaningful and Purposeful Short-term and Long-term Planning • Learner-Centered Continuum for Curriculum • Professional Learning Communities and Opportunities for Staff Growth • Reflective Practices and Goal Setting for School and Students • Support for School Schedules and Structures—Every Minute is Impactful • High Expectations for All Students • Accountability for All • Empowering Relationships • A“Do Whatever it Takes” Attitude

4. Global Education… • Students must be fully-prepared for an interactive, global world. • The top ten jobs in 2010 were not created before 2004. • The number one English-speaking nation in the world is China. • The top quartile of students in India exceeds the entire population of the United States. • Children today will hold jobs that are not yet created. • Children today will use technology in their jobs that we cannot envision today. • The Millennial generation experiences immediate feedback, drop-down menus, and choice. • With over 500 million users as of July 2010, Facebook, were it a country, would be the 4th largest in the world. • “To ensure a job in the year 2030, learn a foreign language”. • Gary Locke, US Ambassador to China

5. DEMONSTRATED Service TO EDUCATION School leaders must model a commitment to service. • Honored by UNCW as the 2012 Distinguished Alumni for the Watson School of Education for service contributions to the greater Wilmington community • Coordinator of Pied Piper Theater at Thalian Hall for Performing Arts • Chairperson of the Read-to-Me Festival 2007 at the Children’s Museum • Supported NHRMC on Red Dress Committee and Foundation Gala Committee (3 years) • Appointed to Cape Fear Museum Advisory Board by County Commissioners, 2007-2010 • Served on the United Way Educational Grants Committee • Served as the President of Junior League of Wilmington 2011, raising $110,000 for educationally-focused projects

6. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, Experiences… • Certified in Reading, Learning Support, Birth-Kindergarten, K-6 Education, and School Administration • Experience in Teaching Preschool, Pre-K, K, 2,3,4 • Teaching Experience in Germany, Korea, and Japan • Taught English Language to Japanese Engineers at Fujitsu and Hitachi in Tokyo, Japan • Curriculum Supervisor for Early Childhood and Elementary Education for 8 Schools • Reading and Language Arts Methods Instructor at UNC-W • Presidential Award for Excellence in Math Teaching, National Winner 2000, Honored by the National Science Foundation at the White House • Sustained Superior Performance Award for Teaching, Department of Defense Schools Highest Teaching Honor • Doctoral Degree in Education, with focus on 21st Century Global Learning International Doctoral Internship—London England Business Internship—Wilmington Community Relations Educational Internship—Worked for Dr. Karen Kirk, Clinical Psychologist to create parent resources for ADD and Specific Learning Disabilities

7. PERSONAL REMARKS I am committed to the education of all children, and have worked at two very elite “National Blue Ribbon Elementary Schools”, as well as have had experience working at high-performing, high-poverty schools that achieve academic success well beyond predictions I have taught the children of an Ambassador, International Diplomats, Generals, Naval Pilots, as well as homeless families who take backpacks of food home on weekends. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure success and high achievement for all children. I believe that effective school administrators must first be outstanding teachers. Throughout my career, I have taken every opportunity to develop my skills as an educator. I have been recognized nationally for teaching performance, and was invited by my Superintendent to become part of his staff to assist in developing the skills of teachers in elementary mathematics. After a tenure in staff development, I was promoted to the Director of Early Childhood and Elementary Programs for eight elementary schools in my district, and continued in this role until I moved to N.C. In 2004, I relocated to Wilmington to marry my husband, John, a nuclear engineer at Brunswick Nuclear Plant in Southport. Given John’s specialty, we are committed to living in the Wilmington area for many years to come, therefore, I have a vested interest in improving the local community through service and volunteering–a value that I want to model to my children. I have worked at the University level, instructing future teachers, and have worked in staff development, but my true passion is working with children in a school. It is where I believe I can best use my talents, and more importantly , it is where I want to be. I lovetraveling, and have a special interest in China, which I have visited six times. I see the value of an international education, and make every effort to promote global experiences in schools, as well as for my own children.

8. Thank you!