Name:
Therese Knecht Dozier
Age:
58
Job Title and Description:
Director, Center for Teacher Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education
College/Major:
University of Florida, B.A. and M.Ed. in Secondary Social Studies Education; University of South Carolina, Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction
Website:
www.ctl.vcu.edu and www.richmondteacherresidency.info
What is a typical day like for you?
No two days are alike. As the Director of the Center for Teacher Leadership, I may be working with staff to design teacher leadership training for teachers who want to expand their professional impact with colleagues or making final preparations for an upcoming National Board Certification Candidate Support workshop. As Director of the Richmond Teacher Residency (RTR) Program, I oversee the implementation of $5.8 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to design and implement an urban teacher residency program in Richmond Public Schools. In this capacity, I can be found meeting with my staff on details of our recruitment strategy, mentor and resident accountability standards, or finalizing policies with the RTR leadership
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
My first job was at Lincoln Middle School in Gainesville, Florida as a social studies teacher. Because Gainesville is a university town, it is very difficult to get a teaching position there, and during the 1970’s there was a surplus of qualified teachers, especially in my field of social studies. In fact, my freshman college advisor spent 45 minutes trying to talk me out of majoring in secondary social studies education! I needed to find a teaching job in Gainesville because my fiancé had already been accepted to graduate school at the University of Florida, and we were to be married right after my college graduation. I was really worried, but one day I woke up to my radio alarm clock and heard that the new superintendent of schools for Gainesville was going to be Dr. James Longstreet. I couldn’t believe my luck because Dr. Longstreet had been the superintendent of schools in my hometown of Punta Gorda, Florida when I graduated as valedictorian from Charlotte High School. I decided to contact Dr. Longstreet in the hopes that he might remember me. To my delight he did and immediately set up an interview for me with a principal who was opening a new school – Lincoln Middle School. That’s how I got my first teaching position.
Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
In 1985, I was selected as the South Carolina Teacher of the Year and then the National Teacher of the Year. South Carolina Governor, Richard Riley, attended the White House event where I received my award from President
Working for Secretary Riley was an amazing education for me. I had the opportunity to craft a piece of legislation, shepherd it through Congress, and watch the President sign it into law. What a thrill for a social studies teacher! I saw some of the most amazing schools and met the most incredible educators. I had access to the latest research and best practices, as well as access to those who are doing this work. For a teacher to be able to communicate regularly with some of the legends of education and even debate issues with them was unbelievable. I traveled with Secretary Riley to Singapore to a meeting of the Ministers of Education of all the Asian-Pacific nations and with President Clinton on his historic trip to Vietnam in 2000 to begin the reconciliation process between our two nations.
But there is one moment that symbolizes for me the greatest lesson I learned from working for Secretary Riley. It happened when I watched him being interviewed by a reporter. The interview came after a terrible week, when many of Secretary Riley’s initiatives were rejected by the majority in Congress. The reporter asked him, “How would you characterize this week?” He replied, “I’d characterize it as a week of missed opportunities.” He then proceeded to talk about all the positive things that the majority could have supported.
The reporter then said, “You must be discouraged that education has become such a political issue – has become so contentious.” The Secretary replied, “Not really, because the first step to taking action is awareness. Controversy ensures that the media will cover education, and this will help the American people understand the issues and decide what actions to take.”
The reporter pushed harder, “But Mr. Secretary, you must admit, you lost this week.”
Without hesitation he looked directly in her eyes and said, “When you believe in what you’re doing, you never lose – you’re only delayed.”
I’ll never forget those words. Secretary Riley taught me how to conduct myself with integrity and dignity, and with respect for others. He also taught me that there is a place for decency and honor in public life, and that no matter the obstacles, you must never give up on what you believe in.
Is there a particular quote or mantra that you live by?
“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But Ihave promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.” These words by Robert Frost have always spoken to me and driven me to keep working hard in whatever job I have undertaken. I am very conscious that my life would be totally different today, in fact that I might not even be alive today, had I not been adopted by Americans in the 1950’s and brought to the United States from Vietnam. So I believe I am here for a purpose and that I must make the most of the second chance on life I have been given.
What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
During my tenure at the U.S. Department of Education, I told off a woman who was constantly trying to undermine my work. I realized that it might have made me feel good to do this, but at the end of the day, it didn’t really help advance my work; it only created more tension when I had to interact with her. I vowed after that experience to always try to take the high road and not allow others to bring me down to their level.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Providing opportunities for teachers to learn skills to be more effective and to empower them as leaders within their schools is very rewarding. Working with outstanding teachers always inspires me because of their passion and dedication to students and to our profession.
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?
I look for passion, enthusiasm, dedication, and a strong work ethic. I want individuals who are life-long learners and
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
Follow your dreams and do the best job possible in every position you get. If I had listened to my college advisor, I would never have become a social studies teacher. If I had worried about my next career move, I might never have been given the opportunities I’ve had. I have never been one to think about what I want to do next. I’ve always focused on what I needed to do now to be the best I can be. In my life, that has served me well. Opportunities have presented themselves, not because I sought them, but because I focused on what I should do and did everything in my power to be successful in my current position.