Mrs. Jo-Lynn Powell

I grew up in a military family, so it would be difficult to truly say where I come from, except to say that I come from a little bit of everywhere on the East Coast! We finally settled down in a very small town called Philadelphia, NY. It is up by Canada and it is cold and snowy!! I married my high school sweetheart, who joined the Marine Corps, so I have spent the past 23 years continuing the tradition of moving around and picking up our roots every few years. This is my third time back living in Jacksonville, so I feel this must be where I belong! ...For now. ;-)

I graduated from Empire State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Cultural Studies, and then another Bachelor's Degree in Business Communication. My love for learning and helping others kept me from feeling satisfied with my degrees and employment opportunities. I was fortunate enough to get accepted as a substitute for a middle school here in NC and found myself in a Special Education classroom for my first position. I knew immediately why no job or career before this made me happy! I spent the next three years working with Special Education students and continued to grow in my love for students with special needs. I applied, and got accepted, to Old Dominion University in Virginia through their Masters of Special Education program. I graduated with my Masters Degree in Special Education K-12 in 2017.

This is my sixth year teaching Special Education and have found each year to provide the continuing education for myself that I am always craving! I am a lifelong learner and will never feel satisfied with my current knowledge. I hope to encourage such love for learning in all of my students! My first year of teaching occurred in Virginia, where I taught in an adaptive classroom for students with Autism. I then moved here, to NC and accepted a position as a teacher for students with Autism in the General Separate setting. I have spent my last five years in the General Education setting supporting my students both inside and outside of the General Education classrooms. 

I love what I do and I do what I love!!