New director takes reins of CDC

  • Published
  • By Kent Cummins
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A place to provide military families with a safe, healthy, education-centered environment for their children.

This is the new director's vision for Goodfellow's Child Development Center.

Dennisse Jones, a native of Lynchburg, Va., comes on board as the CDC's new leader Oct. 25 and brings 23 years of experience in the education field with her to help make the vision a reality.

"Mrs. Jones is a welcome addition to our team and I look forward to her leadership, mentoring, and guidance," said Anthony Hooks, Jr., Chief of the Airman and Family Services Flight. "She comes to us highly recommended from her superiors and peers."

Mrs. Jones has taught elementary students in grades 2, 4, and 5, as well as middle school students in grades 6 and 8. She is also certified as a Professional Educator for Early Childhood through 8th grade in South Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas.

She served as an Education Services Specialist and a School Liaison Officer for both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army in Germany. While living in Illinois, Mrs. Jones was hand-picked to open StoneyBrooke Academy of Early Learning, a daycare and pre-school for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. She held the director position there for three years.

She graduated cum laude from Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., in 1989 with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education and again in 1994 with a Master's Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision.

"I believe her previous experiences as an Education Service Officer, School Liaison Officer, classroom teacher, and pre-school and daycare director makes her the ideal person to take our center and staff to the next level of excellence in child development," Mr. Hooks said.

"I want to take what is good and make it better," Mrs. Jones said. "We have a great responsibility in taking care of these children. Our purpose is to aid parents in the educational, social and emotional development of their children."

The new director wants to collaborate with parents to ensure their children's success.

"The CDC is a place where loving, caring, highly-qualified and trained professional educators, using age and developmentally appropriate activities and materials, work hand-in-hand with the parents to meet the educational needs of all children in our care," she said.

Children of active-duty military or Defense Department civilians are eligible to use the CDC. For age requirements or more information, call the CDC at (325) 654-3239.