Do we Prioritize Special Education in Dickenson County?

Update- Have just learned that a little over 3 years ago the school system hired a former banker with no special education experience into the school system to be a special education teacher. No experience and a business degree, definitely makes him qualified to work with our special needs children!

Sorry to some of you have already read this but since some of you are new to this page I have to rerun part of one of the stories I ran on the Facebook page before it was taken down. Sadly I also have to rewrite it since it was originally sent to me through Facebook messenger and I cannot access that account anymore either.

The citizens of this county need to be aware that Mrs. Robinson is not fulfilling this duty when it comes to the special education staffing in our school system. It has been brought to the attention of the Freedom that this department is a travesty and DOES NOT serve the students to the best of its ability. This starts at the top, with the person that is supposed to be the leader of this department, Denechia Edwards. While Mrs. Edwards may be a fine human and an excellent teacher, she does not have any experience in special education and currently does not have one endorsement on her license to suggest she should be in this position.

https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/tinfo/getlicenseinfo.do?internal=329586&firstName=Den&lastName=Edwards

Now it would be understandable if this was an underpaid position and there was absolutely no one in Southwest Virginia that could lead the department, but that simply is not the case. Denechia Edwards currently makes $80,076, which is $5,000 more than the county administrator currently makes. Now we have to ask ourselves, do we have any other options in this county that could fill this position, based on certifications, well, yes we do.

Mark Mullins

Sorry Mark, but your info was sent to me and I do not know the first name listed on your license.

Amy Davis

https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/tinfo/getlicenseinfo.do?internal=354903&firstName=Amy&lastName=Davis

Both of these people work in the Central Office but in different roles. Amy works under Denechia, probably doing most of the in depth work that Denechia is not qualified to do. There have been some questions as to why Amy has not been reassigned to save money, can they really just leave someone unendorsed as the sole special education person in the special education.