New Mrs. Orien Levy Woolf Executive Director

Lumin Education Announces Dionne Kirby as New Mrs. Orien Levy Woolf Executive Director

Lumin Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dionne Kirby as its new Mrs. Orien Levy Woolf Executive Director. With a considerable background in education and extensive experience in the Dallas nonprofit sector, Ms. Kirby brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to Lumin's mission of transforming education by starting young, involving parents, and creating learning environments to inspire children from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.

Ms. Kirby has made a long career of serving communities and driving positive change. She taught English for six years and provided training and support to school principals and instructional coaches in the School Leadership Department of Dallas ISD. She has previously worked in leadership roles with the Dallas-based nonprofits Literacy Achieves and the Dallas Dinner Table.

While living in Washington, D.C., she served as Deputy Director of an afterschool arts and education program. She completed a bachelor’s degree in English Education with a minor in Spanish at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. She earned a master’s degree in Humanities and Creative Writing from Tiffin University in Ohio and is currently enrolled in their Global Leadership and Change Ph.D. program.

"I'm excited about joining Lumin because the values and mission are the embodiment of what I'm most passionate about. This feels like a commencement and culmination point," she says.

Terry N. Ford, the outgoing Mrs. Orien Levy Woolf Executive Director and Lumin co-founder, expressed excitement about Ms. Kirby's appointment, stating, "Dionne is the kind of person who listens – to the families we serve, to the staff who make our work possible, and to the challenges and opportunities of the larger early childhood community. I am confident that she will respond with energy, wisdom, and creativity to the challenges and opportunities that await us in the future."

Michael Giles, Lumin’s Board President, says “We at Lumin are so pleased and honored that, after an extensive national search, we have found a candidate as singularly qualified as Dionne Kirby. Her skills and expertise, as well as her commitment to being a lifelong learner, are in close alignment with Lumin’s mission.”

Dionne Kirby will officially assume the Executive Director role at Lumin on August 5th, 2024.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Rachel Nelson Assi
Chief Development Officer
[email protected]