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FASNY Names Dawn Callahan Next Head of Middle School

After an extensive search and meeting with a variety of candidates from Asia, Africa, and the Americas over the past several months, we are pleased to announce that Dawn Callahan will join us as the next FASNY Head of Middle School.
After an extensive search and meeting with a variety of candidates from Asia, Africa, and the Americas over the past several months, we are pleased to announce that Dawn Callahan will join us as the next FASNY Head of Middle School. Many thanks to our recruitment partners at Carney Sandoe and our internal FASNY search committee for their dedication to this endeavor and ultimately finding the right fit for our community. 
 
First, we must thank Mr. Gilbert Ekotto for his support as a member of the search committee, and more importantly, for his more than 20 years of service to FASNY. Throughout his years, Gilbert has held various important roles and greatly impacted not only the foundation and growth of our wonderful school but also the lives of numerous students. We will certainly miss him but are excited and supportive as he takes on a new opportunity and a new home abroad. As the saying goes, don’t be a stranger, Gilbert, you always have a family at FASNY!  
 
Dawn is bilingual and brings to FASNY an extensive background in International and French education. Since 2016, Dawn has been the Upper School Administrator and Director of Learning with an emphasis on Student Support Services for 5th-12th Grade at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee. She holds multiple degrees including a Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of Trent, Canada, a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Poitiers, France, a Bachelor of Arts Honors in Education from the University of Western, Canada, a Masters of Education in Leadership from Concordia University, and is expected to finish a Post Masters Principal/ Instructional Leadership License from the University of Chattanooga this month. Her professional development studies also include extensive training and certifications in Diversity Equity Inclusion, Reading Recovery (Read 180 and  System 44), Wilson Reading, TPR for Foreign Language, and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). 
 
Dawn has previously experienced learning leadership projects at Elementary Williamson County Schools and Franklin Road Academy where she served as Coordinator and Learning Specialist for French International Students grades K-12/Learning Specialist 9-12. Dawn also spent time in the classroom as an Elementary French Immersion Teacher in the Toronto School District. In all of these roles across all school divisions, she worked closely with teachers and students to provide guidance and rigor for proper lesson plans and curricula for French and international students. This included assisting French Expatriates to assimilate into American culture and school life. 
 
Within all of her previous roles, Dawn takes great pride in the relationships formed with both parents and students alike and in creating individualized academic plans for her students. During her tenure at Battle Ground Academy, she and her team designed a robust Learning Center to accommodate the needs of all learners, created a curriculum for the onboarding and orientation of new students, and initiated a peer tutor program for students in both the Middle and Upper School, among many other outstanding and exciting learning initiatives. 
 
Dawn’s warm personality, as well as her professional and academic background, align naturally with our Mission and our Core Values. Her enthusiasm, attentiveness, organizational skills, rigor, charisma, empathy, and ability to problem-solve will be a wonderful addition to writing the next chapter for our Middle School. 
 
Regarding her new role at FASNY, Dawn says “I am honored to serve as the new Middle School Division Head at FASNY for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. It is with great pleasure that I return to my grassroots within the French American and International Community. Creating opportunities for students to experience rigorous academic learning and success while flourishing in a bilingual and globally-centered education inspired me to pursue leadership in the independent school realm.”
 
Over the next coming months, Dawn will work closely with Mr. Ekotto, Ms. Toussaint, Assistant Head of Middle School, and the entire Middle School Team for a smooth transition before officially taking her position in July 2022.
 
We look forward to Dawn being part of our FASNY family and hope you'll join us in welcoming her. 
 
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