- Appointed in 1988
- B.S. University of Maine
- Graduate Study Harvard University
- 401.849.4646 x215
- dpigott@pennfield.org
Dawn’s tenure at The New School/The Pennfield School began as a parent. As a faculty member, Dawn has held many positions: 2nd grade, English and history in grades 6-8, and later as Head of Resource, emphasizing the incorporation of the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach for remedial instruction.
Dawn’s professional training in OG was under the tutelage of Ms. Emi Flynn, founder of The Hamilton School. Dawn and Ms. Flynn worked summers instructing RI and MA teachers in the integration of this alternative reading approach into their elementary classrooms. They collaborated and completed workbooks and teacher manuals reflecting OG principles and were both Past Presidents of the RI Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. For over 10 years, Dawn served as adjunct faculty in the Education Department of Salve Regina University where she taught Professional Portfolio for Education students, Praxis Test Preparation for RI Teacher Certification, and an introduction of OG into the elementary classroom.
Dawn is a skiing enthusiast and was a member of the Alitalia International Girls’ Professional Ski Team.