Dr. Dawn Stanfield is the program director and special education coordinator at the Academy for Collaborative Education (ACE), a specialized charter school serving students with autism from kindergarten through sixth grade. Her work ensures that ACE is more than a school. It’s a place where students can thrive in an environment created to support them and their needs.

Dawn’s purpose in this work was shaped by her experience as a mother to a child with autism. When her daughter was diagnosed, Dawn quickly realized how difficult it was to find a place that could truly support her child’s learning needs. Even after her daughter’s passing, Dawn has worked to support programs that reflect the care, understanding and opportunity she wanted for her own child. Her daughter’s memory continues to guide and inspire every decision she makes, and her legacy lives on in the countless children whose lives have been changed through ACE.

As the only school of its kind in North Louisiana, ACE fills a critical gap for families seeking specialized education and support for children with autism. Dawn helps translate that mission into meaningful change, ensuring that services are tailored to each child’s strengths and challenges. The individualized approach she helps lead means progress looks different for every child, but it always moves them forward. Because of Dawn’s work, children leave ACE with a stronger sense of who they are and what they’re capable of accomplishing.

The impact of Dawn’s work can be felt in every classroom and every small victory, creating a place where children with autism are not just supported but truly seen. Her work honors her daughter’s memory by opening doors for others, creating opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom. Because of her dedication, countless families now believe in brighter futures for their children.