Ms. Dawn M. Pilon – New Assistant Principal: Kubasaki High School.

The Pacific South DSO would like to introduce Ms. Dawn M. Pilon – New Assistant Principal: Kubasaki HS

A native of Midland, Michigan, Ms. Dawn M. Pilon has taken a unique professional and personal journey to arrive at her current position of Assistant Principal at Kubasaki High School.

After graduating from Midland High School in Midland, Michigan, she stayed close to home attending Central Michigan University and on a whim enrolled in an introductory ROTC class. This was the beginning of her military career as she was awarded a 3 and a half year ROTC scholarship. She spent those four years learning as much as she could about how to be an effective soldier and leader. The same day she was commissioned in May of 1988, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree; majoring in Psychology, with minors in Military Science and Interpersonal and Public Communications. A short six weeks later she was on active duty, serving at Ft. Knox for Basic Camp cadets..

She then traveled to Arizona where she attended the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course. After training, making a quick stop at Ft. Benning for Airborne School, she traveled across the world to Yongsan, Korea working in the 1st Signal Brigade S2 Office for one year. 2LT Pilon was then assigned to the 9th Blackhawk Battalion, 101st Airborne Division as the S2 and was promoted to 1LT. Soon after arriving at Fort Campbell, the 101st was deployed to Operation Desert Shield in Saudi Arabia. After returning, she was assigned to the G2 office until being honorably discharged in February of 1992. During the almost four years of service she was awarded the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. During the four years in the military she grew not only in her profession but personally but getting involved in the theater, and competing in long distance races.

The end of her military career was the beginning of a long and fulfilling career in education. She moved to Louisville, Kentucky, attending the University of Louisville and earned her Masters of Arts in Teaching with a major in Spanish. At that time she moved to Perry, a small town in Iowa, spending four years teaching middle and high school Spanish. During those four years, Ms. Pilon completed her Specialist in Educational Leadership Degree at Drake University. She then moved to Des Moines, where she taught high school Spanish for two more years. Moving into the administrative position of School Improvement Consultant serving schools in Des Moines Public Schools, mentoring elementary to high school teachers and administrators with a variety of improvement efforts, was a first step in using the leadership training she began several years before.

About DoDEA

DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for school-aged children of Department of Defense personnel who would otherwise not have access to high-quality public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, Western Asia, the Middle East, Cuba, the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Educational Activities throughout the United States that serve children of military families.