Meet Success Coach Ebony Dyson
October is National Dropout Prevention Month and we are recognizing all of our Success Coaches who implement our dropout prevention programming at nine Brunswick County Schools, serving over 500 at-risk students annually.
Meet Ebony Dyson, Success Coach at Shallotte Middle School:
Ebony holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and an MSW in Social work, with a Youth Services background. Ebony chose to work for Communities In Schools because she wanted to give back to her community and be a positive source of support for youth. She enjoys encouraging students, helping them recognize their strengths, and being someone they can depend on. Ebony said she has been surprised by how many students need consistent support and encouragement throughout the day. Sometimes, students simply need someone to remind them that they are capable of doing hard things.
Since joining our team, Ebony has found the most rewarding part of her work is being a consistent source of support and providing students with a calm, welcoming space where they feel comfortable. Building relationships and seeing students excited to see her reminds her that her presence truly matters.
As with many positions, not surprisingly Ebony finds the paperwork and documentation required to implement the dropout prevention program can sometimes feel overwhelming, even though she understands how important it is. Staying organized and maintaining a good self-care routine helps Ebony manage the workload while continuing to be present for her students.
When asked what she is particularly proud of, Ebony shared, “I am proud of making it through my first year, growing personally and professionally, and building strong relationships. I am also proud of setting goals, bringing new ideas to the team, and turning those ideas into programs and opportunities for students.”
Ebony is a great asset to CIS and to the students at Shallotte Middle School. She is able to consistently implement the supports and interventions each student needs to work toward their goals while also being available for emotional support throughout each school day for her students. Ebony is always #AllinforKids in her school community!
