Susan Hasley has lived in Dickson County most of her life. She graduated from DCHS and then pursued her accounting degree from MTSU. She has worked in both the public and private sectors. Over the years she has worked part-time as an office manager for several small companies. She homeschooled her three children. Throughout this part of her life, she helped start and was chairman of both an American Heritage Girls troop and a Cub Scout Pack. She was co-director of several district and local summer camps and has taught everything from elementary science to high school government. Her passion for literacy started when she realized one of her children had dyslexia. This started her lifelong journey of helping children who struggled to learn. In 2019 she felt the need to help adults. Once she realized that there was not a literacy organization in Dickson, she began the process of creating R.E.A.D. In 2020, Susan obtained her certification in the Susan Barton Reading and Spelling System. Susan's passion is to meet people where they are and to encourage them so that they can see they can do whatever God has called them to do. Her hope is that not only will READ help change the path of the learner, but it will change the trajectory of their family's future. Her favorite things to do are to travel with her husband, Richard, to enjoy gatherings with her grown children and their families, and to take walks with friends.
Missy Duke
CHAIRMAN
Missy is a retired CPA and accounting software consultant. She currently serves on the boards of Christ Gift Academy (Christian school in Kenya, Africa) and the Pastoral Care Department at Horizon Medical Center in Dickson. She has been involved in leadership and as a volunteer in various other homeschool, service and religions organizations. Providing the opportunity for people of all ages to read, learn, and discover in a safe and loving environment has always been important to Missy. She and her husband Brooks have three grown children. They attend Belmont Church in Nashville and love to travel, hike, snow ski, enjoy God’s beautiful creation, and be with their family.
Charlie Isaacs
VICE CHAIR
Charlie Isaacs is a native of Dayton, Ohio, and holds degrees from multiple universities in Civil Engineering, Organizational Management, and Supply Chain/Logistics. During his 40-year tenure with CSX Transportation, he was Director of a variety of departments, leading his teams in developing innovative ideas and strategies for the industry. Charlie is an enthusiastic advocate for adult literacy and was a tutor for the Kingsport Literary Council for several years. He finds it very rewarding to make a difference in people’s lives and delights in helping them achieve whatever goals they have. When he has free time, Charlie enjoys reading and investing in time with his family.
Ann Galya-Ferebee
SECRETARY
Shirley Ann Galya-Ferebee earned a degree in elementary education from Belmont University. She taught in Dickson County schools for 26 years then accepted a position as an instructional coach in the school system. After retirement, Ann went back part-time as an assistant manager in the Response to Intervention program for Dickson County schools. She did private tutoring and also worked as a volunteer in the Dickson County Jail tutoring inmates for GED. Ann has always celebrated the joy of literacy in her career and personal life. She believes it is a key component for personal growth and success for children and adults.
Renee Badon
ADVISOR MEMBER
A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee, Renee Badon has served in various supervisory and managerial roles for multiple organizations in middle Tennessee, including Girl Scout Council of Middle Tennessee, University of Tennessee Extension, Youth Leadership Dickson County, and Volunteer Tennessee. She is currently the Executive Director for CASA of Dickson County serving Stewart County. Renee’s extensive experience in program direction, leadership training, teaching, and community involvement are invaluable as she serves on the READ board. Renee has been married to her husband, Tommy, for 30 years and has two children (Aubrey and Beau) and a daughter-in-law (Darcie). In her spare time, Renee loves antiques and going to the movies.
Heidi Faulks
BOARD MEMBER
Heidi Faulks is a graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Elementary Education. Heidi has taught in both elementary and middle school settings and has also been a tutor, homeschool parent, and served in multiple children’s church capacities over her years in education. She is passionate about helping students improve the skills that lead to further success and a lifelong love of reading. In her free time, Heidi enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Mary Collins
TREASURER
Mary Daniel Collins received her bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Tennessee and her Ed.D. from Trevecca Nazarene University. Mary has worked in public education for 25 years with experience in the classroom and central office administration in Chicago Public Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and Dickson County Schools. In her current role as Federal Programs Director, she coordinates and monitors formula grant programs primarily identified to help students that are considered at-risk. Mary is passionate about teaching students to read and instilling a lifelong love of reading. She is a member of Charlotte Fagan Community Church. Mary has two children (Stone and Katie), a daughter-in-law (Ellie), and a grandson (Ben). In her spare time, Mary loves to crochet, travel, and spend time with her family.
Dawn Hutton
BOARD MEMBER
Dawn Hutton loves her job as a mortgage loan originator. She has been in the mortgage lending for the last 30 years and is blessed to work with great customers and real estate agents. Working in this industry has been one of the best choices she has ever made. She currently works at Tristar, a community bank, whose customers and employees are like family. Being a people person, Dawn enjoys meeting clients face to face and always likes to attend the customer's loan closings.
After attending White Bluff Elementary and William James Middle School, Dawn graduated from Dickson County High School. She played softball at both Cumberland University and Austin Peay. She has three grown children and two granddaughters.
She ia an ambassador for the Dickson Chamber of Commerce, a graduate of Leadership Dickson County, and has completed the Citizen's City, the advanced Dickson Police Academy class, and the Nashville's Citizen's TBI class.
Her motto is: Call, text, or email me anytime if I can be of service.
Randy Brison
BOARD MEMBER
First and foremost a Jesus follower, Randy Brison seeks to serve God and others in all he does.
He and his wife, Denise Brown Brison, a good Dickson girl who didn't hold his Fairview roots against him, have been together 38 years. They enjoy spending time with son Todd, daughter-in-love Kate (since 2012), and son Ian, all Dickson County High graduates.
Randy has been a journalist, editor, teacher, coach, student data manager, and entrepreneur. He left Dickson County (TN) Schools in 2019 to continue running Tennessee Schools Reporting Services LLC, a company literally built in a basement (more info here).
Since Randy kept novels, magazines, and comic books hidden inside textbooks while in junior and high school classes, it is appropriate that he is board member for an organization called "READ."
Pam Edmond
BOARD MEMBER
Pam Edmond is a wife, mother, grandmother, and daughter of a Veteran, first, who loves Jesus Christ. Her heart and message is to be a servant by putting her hands to work to serve her community and fellow man. She can be found feeding and shealtering the homeless, minsitering to women in jail, teaching small groups, speaking at churches, youth programs, and on the mission field in Belize. She is passionate and considers it a privilege to serve and empower people that they "Can do all things through Christ who strengthens them." - Her favorite scripture.
She loves the Dickson County Help Center where she began as a volunteer and currently is the Director of Client Services. You will find her doing whatever it take so get the job done to meet the needs of the community. She notes everyone has a purpose and it takes being humble to fulfill it and help someone fullfil their purpose. This requires listening and not being judgmental. Many remark that when they enter her office she always greet them with a smile and they leave with a word of encouragement and hope.
In 2017, she was the receipent of the Dickson County NAACP Community and Spreading the Word of the Lord award. She is a graduate of the Dickson County Sheriff Citizen Academy and Dickson County Leadership. She has served on the County Sherriff's Office Inmate Work Release Committee, TN Licensure Board, and the Dickson County Family YMCA Establishment Committee. She is a member of various civic organizations: Lion's Club, GFWC, Morning Rotary, and Veterans' Coalition.
A graduate of Bethel University, Pam holds a Bachelor's degree in Organizational Management, Master's of Arts in Conflict and Resolution, listed in 2014 Mediator TN Courts, Speiclity Family, trained in Domestic Violence, General Civil/Family, Rule 31, and Master's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix.
Pamela is married to Gordon; the best man in the world. They are a blended family of one son, Chris, and twin daughters, Ajalen and Ajalona. She is the daughter of Mack and Irene Adams. In her leisure time, she loves hanging out with family, camping and doting on her grandchildren, Bryson, Cason, and Easton and those who affectionately call her "grandmother."
