Team Members

Joi Wasill

Joi Wasill

President, Director of Resource Development

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Joi Wasill is the President and Director of Resource Development for DCO.  For the past 20 years, she has led the organization to serve over 220,000 students and youth in Tennessee, Alabama and other states with sexual risk avoidance/abstinence education programs leading them to optimal health and life success.  Her career in education began in 1988 after completing the Teacher Education certification courses at Middle Tennessee State University following her Bachelor of Public Administration degree from the University of Mississippi. As a public and private school secondary education teacher with 33 years of experience, Joi understands the nature of the youth population, curriculum and instruction implementation as well as evaluation.  She is certified as a Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Specialist (SRAS) by the nation’s top training organization in the field of SRAE and holds a current state of Tennessee teacher license.  She is a member of Protect Child Health Coalition (PCHC), has been a workshop leader and speaker at CareNet, the National Council for Adoption, and Teach Them Diligently conferences.  Joi was honored to be named as Who’s Who in American Educators” distinction in 1991, “Young Educator of the Year” Award by the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce in 1992, “Top 30 Most Influential People in Sumner County” in 2011 and the “Congressional Coalition on Adoption’s ‘Angel in Adoption’ Award” in 2012. She also received the “Impact Award” on behalf of DCO from the White House Chamber of Commerce in 2017. Joi and her husband Bill have been married 38 years and have a son, Jacob.  They have been active members of the community and church where Bill has owned a business for 38 years.

Joi is married to Bill Wasill and they have one son who attends The University of Alabama. She enjoys spending time with her family at the beach, lake or watching Alabama football games.

“I love how DCO opens the eyes and hearts of our teenagers to see that they truly have the power to make great choices, have the life they always dreamed of and be the person they were created to be.”

Blair Gooch

Blair Gooch

Program Coordinator

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Blair is an Education Specialist in Southwest Tennessee. She also serves as the Program Coordinator for DCO. She went to school at Troy University and graduated in May of 2021 with a Bachelor of Social Work. She graduated with a Master of Social Work from Troy University in December of 2022. Blair is certified as a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist (SRAS) and a REAL Essentials Specialist and lives in Florence, Alabama. She enjoys spending time with family, going to the beach, and volunteering in children’s and youth ministry.

“I love that DCO is an organization focused on the lives of young people. We equip students to make decisions based on facts rather than emotions and prepare them to make choices that will benefit them in years to come.”

Christie Shaw

Christie Shaw

Education Specialist

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Christie is a High School and Middle School Education Specialist in southeast Tennessee and studied Social Work at South West Texas State University. She is a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist (SRAS) and REAL Essentials Certified. Christie is passionate about impacting the lives of students and helping them accomplish their life goals. She is married to her best friend and they have two wonderful boys. Christie loves working as a volunteer with local nonprofits and traveling with her family.

“I am passionate about the work of DCO. In a world where deception is increasingly the norm, we speak truth and hope into the lives of young people. Some of these students have never experienced this before. We are truly changing lives in every school we serve.”

Beth Pruitt

Beth Pruitt

Education Specialist

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Beth Pruitt is an Education Specialist in the greater Birmingham, AL area, as well as a certified Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist (SRAS), and has worked with the DCO team as a pregnancy center partner since 2013, using the Life Choices curriculum to educate high school students in Jefferson and Shelby counties with the Sexual Risk Avoidance message. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Belhaven University, and has been involved in pregnancy center ministry for over 15 years, serving in both volunteer roles and staff positions. Beth lives in Pelham, AL, with husband Scott and son Parker, and loves her role educating students, as well as ministering to those facing an unplanned pregnancy or engaging in risky behavior, with compassion, truth and grace!

Kila Bryson

Kila Bryson

Education Specialist - AL

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Kila Bryson is an Education Specialist in the Southwest Tennessee and North Alabama regions. She went to The University of Alabama and received a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Public Health. Kila is also a Certified Health Education Specialist. She lives in Athens, AL, with husband Sawyer and enjoys spending time with friends and family, being in nature, and serving in the children’s ministry at her local church. Kila is excited to work with DCO and educate students through there ministry work!

Beth Cox

Beth Cox

Program Director

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Beth Cox is the Program Director and has served in this capacity since 2010. She is responsible for training personnel, curriculum development and managing the speaking team as well as presenting in the classroom herself. Beth is certified as a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist (SRAS), a REAL Essentials Specialist and has demonstrated a strong commitment to education. She has her B.S Degree from the University of Kentucky and served on the Sumner County Board of Education for eight years.  Beth was honored to be named as “Sumner County Public Servant of the Year and was recognized as one of the “Top 30 Most Influential People in Sumner County”. Beth and her husband Todd have been married for over 30 years and have two daughters and are active members of Long Hollow Church, where they disciple and mentor young married couples. 

“What I like most about DCO is that we are truly making a difference in the lives of these students. I see the reactions on their faces as they learn new information and they tell us how the information has changed their attitude about things like sexual activity and adoption. It is truly thrilling to know that you are helping shape positive decisions for their future.”

Jamie Blackwell

Jamie Blackwell

Education Specialist

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Jamie is an Education Specialist in middle Tennessee. Jamie has worked with DCO since 2013 and serves as a Middle School Educator in Sumner County and is SRAE certified. She also helps facilitate and teach the Parent Power Program.

Jamie and her husband Carson have been married for 23 years. They have 4 children and are an adoptive family. Jamie has a heart for young people to live out of their full potential and know that they have immense value and worth.

“DCO is a unique education program that meets the students where they are and addresses current issues that they are facing. DCO also teaches students how to make the best decisions so that they can have bright and healthy futures.”

Kelly Payne

Kelly Payne

Community Outreach Coordinator

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Kelly is a High School and Middle School Education Specialist and serves as Community Outreach Coordinator in southeast Tennessee. 

Madeline Marconi

Madeline Marconi

Education Specialist

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Madeline is an Education Specialist in Middle Tennessee. She has her bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries. She has lived in Arkansas for her whole life and graduated from a small university in rural Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. She will relocate to Hendersonville, TN to be a part of the DCO family. Madeline is looking forward to meaningful classroom time and conversations that will prayerfully lead to changed attitudes and hearts, not only for students but for herself as well. 

Christina Oldacre

Christina Oldacre

Parent Power and Outreach Specialist - AL

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Christina currently serves as a Parent Power Educator in the Birmingham area. She graduated with a degree in Psychology from Southeastern University and quickly realized that her heart was geared towards prevention and education rather than a traditional counseling setting. Her last position before coming to DCO was working at a nonprofit in New Orleans that helped bridge the gap between the students at school and much needed mentors in the community. She has served in various roles within nonprofits for over 11 years.
Christina has been married to her husband Adam for almost 10 years and they have 2 children.
 
“What excites me most about working with DCO is the education that both students and parents alike receive. With so many mixed messages being sent to our kids, it’s amazing to have an organization that is based on truth AND gives practical application to make better decisions to ultimately change our kids’ futures.”
Duffy Betterton

Duffy Betterton

Online Specialist

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Duffy currently serves DCO as the webmater and technical support for online curriculum. She has been a long time supporter of the work of DCO. She has been married for 25+ years and raised 3 daughters in her hometown of Hendersonville, TN. 
Annette Carnes

Annette Carnes

Finance Manager

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Annette Carnes serves as Finance Manager for DCO.

She has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Freed Hardeman University. Upon graduation, she went to work for her dad’s business for the next 30 + years wearing a few different hats—chief one eventually being that of bookkeeper. Annette is very happy to bring that experience to the office of DCO.
She and her husband, Jeff, have raised two sons and now have two “daughters-in-love” and  three grandchildren! They worship with the Hartsville Pike church of Christ and are actively involved in teaching/leading adult classes. She is an avid fan of the Nashville Predators and cheers for the Tennessee Volunteers as well.

“I’ve been an outside supporter of DCO for many years because I’ve seen that high school students are making adult decisions without the knowledge and experience of being adults, and DCO gives them knowledge upon which to base their decisions. DCO has changed lives for the better because of its presence in the lives of our young people.”

Claire Fults

Claire Fults

Communications Manager

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Claire is a Middle School & High School Education Specialist in Alabama. She is a Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist (SRAS) and is REAL Essentials Certified. Claire also serves as our Communications Manager. She graduated from Belmont University in 2018. She and her husband, Tyler, live in Birmingham. They are active in serving at The Church at Liberty Park where Tyler is the Youth Pastor. Claire loves getting to work at DCO, a ministry that is focused on the success of the next generation.

“My favorite thing about DCO is that we provide teens with information that helps them process their decisions in a way that will positively impact their futures. We get to teach them how to have healthy boundaries and healthy relationships – skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.”

Bonnie Bowman

Bonnie Bowman

Education Specialist

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Bonnie is an Education Specialist in middle Tennessee – Sumner, Robertson, Davidson, and Wilson counties. She has her associates in Early Childhood Education a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. For the past 7 years, Bonnie has worked in the WIC industry bringing more products into the WIC system. Recently she, her husband Dillon, and their three children relocated from NY to Hendersonville TN. They are enjoying the southern hospitality and warmer weather! Bonnie feels honored to be in the classroom having conversations with students that allow for opportunities to plant seeds in the lives of middle and high schoolers.

Laurie Morrison

Laurie Morrison

Education Specialist

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Laurie is a Middle school and High school Education Specialist in the Birmingham area and studied nursing at Samford University.  Laurie has worked in various nursing areas including emergency, pediatrics, schools, labor and delivery and as a SANE nurse. She has a heart for students and her desire is for them to have a healthy future. She is married to her husband, Jeff and they have four children.

Jodi Fuqua

Jodi Fuqua

Education Specialist - AL

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Jodi Fuqua is an Education Specialist for the Healthy Boundaries program in Morgan County. She retired from teaching after 31 years as an eighth grade social studies teacher at Hartselle Junior High School. She is a 1992 graduate of Auburn University and earned a Masters degree from UNA. She also holds an Ed.S degree in Teacher Leadership from UWA. She is excited to get back into the classroom and share information that she believes is so important for this generation.
 
Jodi has been married for 35 years and has two grown children. She is also a crazy “dog lady” and has four fur babies. She enjoys pickleball, hiking, yoga, and reading.

Our Board of Directors

Joi Wasill President

Marlis Boyce (Chair) Community Leader

Amanda Palmer (Secretary) Event Planner

Jim Carper (Treasurer) Vice President

Susan Allen (Board Member) Community Volunteer

Rhonda Nason (Board Member) Retired RN

Steve Springer (Board Member) Retired Engineer