Kimberly S. Dunn

Dexter Elementary School
U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity
Fort Moore, Georgia
[email protected]

Kimberly Dunn has served Dexter Elementary School as principal for three and a half years. In that time, she has transformed the school’s approach to differentiation and strengthened relationships among the school, families, and community partners. Under Dunn’s leadership, Dexter’s MTSS program has incorporated key elements of Kotter’s 8-step change model, using a combination of heart and data/logic techniques to build a sense of urgency in staff as a foundation for focused collaboration. Dunn restructured the master schedule to maximize instruction and stimulate collaborative planning, and has developed the school’s guiding coalition to channel expertise and provide the professional development necessary for effective co-teaching. The school has also implemented a Technology Coaching Program to increase and diversify how teachers integrate and embed the use of technological tools in daily teaching practices. These efforts have elevated student math proficiency, with the school moving from ninth to fifth of 24 schools in its district in 2022-2023. Dexter’s parents demonstrate a high level of satisfaction with the school’s approach to communication, following Dunn’s implementation of a schoolwide communication plan focused on strong family integration into the learning process. Among other enrichment initiatives, Dunn also launched a new partnership with the Columbus Ballet to engage students in musical composition, choreography, and art appreciation. Dunn holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from North Carolina Central University and an M.Ed. in School Administration from Grand Canyon University.