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.
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.
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. He currently works as a freelance tech support staffer.
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."
JASON BETTS
BOARD MEMBER
Jason Betts serves as Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Dickson and as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. He has spent his career investing in people—spiritually, personally, and practically.
Through his pastoral ministry, he seeks to guide individuals and families toward growth, hope, and purpose. In his financial practice, he helps clients build stability and prepare for the future through thoughtful, values-driven planning.
He and his wife, Maria, have been married for twenty years and are the parents of three children. Jason has lived in Dickson County for several years and is committed to serving the community through education, leadership, and family-focused support.
He believes literacy is a foundation for personal growth and a key to opening opportunities for individuals and their families. He counts it a privilege to support READ’s mission of empowering adult learners and strengthening the community.
In his free time, Jason enjoys reading, hunting, running, and watching Tennessee sports.
Doug Stewart
BOARD MEMBER
Douglas (Doug) Stewart came to Dickson to work on the TAEM Grant, a twenty-five-million-dollar project funded by the state legislature. The grant is designed to help families get past the “economic cliff” that occurs when earning just one dollar more than their prescribed program limit results in significant state benefits being lost. Doug’s work focuses on helping families bridge that gap and move toward long-term financial stability.
Before joining the TAEM team, Doug taught in K–12 schools, where he developed a strong passion for working with students in Special Education and Exceptional Education.
He’s also taught college courses for students pursuing their degrees. Doug brings a mix of teaching experience, compassion, and problem-solving to his work with families in the community, and has tutored READ students for approximately 2 years.
Doug holds bachelor’s degrees in Business and Sociology, a Master’s of Science in Brain-Based Learning, an M.B.A., and a Doctorate in Learning Organizations and Strategic Change.
Arrita Summers
BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Summers retired in 2023 as President of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Dickson and Clarksville campus where she promoted a workforce development mission.
Currently, she continues this work part-time for TBR as Senior Advisor for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Faculty within the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. In this role she engages with faculty and staff from the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology to develop and enhance quality teaching to increase and improve student outcomes.
Dr. Summers earned an Educational Doctorate in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University. She is a current member of Rotary International and PEO. Arrita lives in Dickson, TN with her husband Ron. Together they teach the Young Adult Sunday School class at Cross Roads Cowboy Church in Bon Aqua, TN and have traveled to Cuba multiple times serving in a mission capacity.
They have three children and seven grandchildren. She enjoys spending her free time learning Spanish and researching her genealogy.
