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.”

Terri serves DCO as the Operations Director and is responsible for all administrative and organizational oversight. She was called to non-profit work in 2001, just after the tragedy of 09/11. Since then Terri has been employed by some of Nashville’s largest non-profits; The Salvation Army, American Red Cross & United Way of Metropolitan Nashville.

Terri is married to Andy Kennedy and enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. Terri feels blessed to have the opportunity to bring her non-profit experience and knowledge back to Sumner County and DCO!

“In a world where we have abundant information, I feel that more than ever teenagers are starving for truth. They can find out anything they want to know about sex….except for the true consequences of their choices. When I was growing up, if you didn’t have a positive role model in your life you could at least watch TV and find someone like Andy Griffith to look up to. Now the internet is a huge influencer in young people’s lives. They can learn all about ANYTHING they want to know with no adult present to guide them. Someone has to tell kids the truth about their life choices. DCO does that.”

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 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 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!

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.”

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

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.