We were lucky to catch up with Dawn Foreman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dawn, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
My purpose was to be an educator. I was born and raised in a small town in Central Pennsylvania, where my home life was marked by dysfunction. Both of my parents struggled with alcohol abuse, and my father also battled drug addiction. I bore witness to regular episodes of domestic violence and often found myself in the role of her mother’s protector. I knew that if I went to bed, and my father wasn’t at home, I would inevitably be awakened by the sound of my parents’ violent altercations. Typically, when I entered the room, the physical abuse against my mom would cease. My screams and tears had always been enough to halt my father’s brutality, but not on a night when I was 12. I could not stop the abuse that was taking place. In a brave act, I called the police, leading to my father’s arrest. Shortly thereafter, my parents divorced. My turbulent family life took a toll on my education as well. I attended five different elementary schools from kindergarten to second grade due to my family’s frequent relocations, which left me without any friends or a stable connection to my teachers.
Starting in the third grade, Edison Elementary School became my sanctuary. Within its walls, there was no fighting, no screaming, and no trace of domestic violence. Here, I found the respite I desperately needed, a place where I could lower my guard and take a breath. The tranquility of the school environment allowed me to concentrate on learning and achieving. Even though none of the adults were aware of the turmoil transpiring in my house, the feeling of safety I found at school made a profound and positive impact on my life. It was at this pivotal moment that I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I didn’t really know my purpose at age 8, but I came to learn that if I could make at least one child in my lifetime feel like I did when I was at school, I fulfilled my purpose.
My passion for teaching was evident from a young age. I turned my bedroom into a makeshift classroom, arranging my Barbie dolls and stuffed animals in rows and using a chalkboard my father had painted on a wall to teach to my “students.” During my childhood, I spent time in Ocean City, NJ, with my second cousin, Debbie, who was a teacher. Debbie’s habit of bringing teacher’s editions of textbooks to the beach excited me! These special editions contained all the answers in little pink letters and further fueled my passion for teaching.
Things have come full circle for me. I moved from teaching children to teaching adults, and after 20 years, I returned to teaching children.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I shared my early story in my response to how I found my purpose. Last year, my full-time position with an education non-profit ended. I loved doing what I was doing. With a severance package in hand, I decided to continue coaching, consulting, and providing professional learning experiences to educators throughout the country. I launched my own consulting practice, Dawn Foreman Consulting. After 8 months, I ran up against limited funding and my severance package was running out, so I made the decision to return to a full-time position as an elementary school teacher. It has been an amazing experience to be able to put into practice what I have been teaching educators about for the past 6 years, the science of learning and development. I always knew relationships mattered, but now I know the science behind why they matter. I work hard every day to strengthen the relationships I have with my fourth-grade students and to create a learning environment that is calm, safe, and predictable. Both of these are necessary for children to achieve, especially those that have experienced trauma. These are things our brains need to work at an optimal level. This experience will allow for me to be more empathetic toward teachers and staff I may supervise as I make a move toward being a school leader once again.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Perseverance, optimism, and work ethic.
Searching for your purpose will naturally lead to the qualities above. When you know what you want, focusing on improving your work ethic and being perseverant will prove beneficial in finding your purpose. I was someone who always kept my eye on the prize.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
If I only had a decade left, I would prioritize the things that matter – family and friends. I would retire early, move to a less expensive area closer to my family, and make a list of things I have wanted to do but haven’t yet done. I would prioritize spending time with my two nieces and nephew, ages 13, 16, and 22, and regularly visit with my two brothers and my two friends of 30+ years who still live in my hometown. I would ensure my husband and I got to travel and see things that we’ve always wanted to see.
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Image Credits
These are my personal photos. I have received permission from others in the photos to use them on my previous company website.
