{5JJ;,_ �a {pjf. � is a native of Jacksonville , Florida who recalls her earliest motivation coming from her mother who she said she made fun of because her mother always prayed out loud . " My mother would place everything in the hands of the Lord so one day I said to her ' Mom you worry the Lord all the time ,' and she quickly responded ' Yea and he is never too busy to answer me either .'
{5JJ;,_ �a {pjf. � is a native of Jacksonville , Florida who recalls her earliest motivation coming from her mother who she said she made fun of because her mother always prayed out loud . " My mother would place everything in the hands of the Lord so one day I said to her ' Mom you worry the Lord all the time ,' and she quickly responded ' Yea and he is never too busy to answer me either .'
Theresa ' s education career spans over 13 years of college courses and preparation . It started off in nursing school only to have the school close before she finished . Theresa ' s grandmother passed away shortly thereafter and her mother could not afford to send her out of state to continue her degree pursue . Theresa ' s former College Director arranged for her to take a Nursing Board Examination because she was qualified due to the number of college courses and training she received . " I remember the voice of my mother at that point praying " Oh Lord , I need your help !" I thought to myself , God did it time and time again for my mother ... He could do it for me . I passed the examination and received my license to practice nursing which gave me the opportunity to work and pay for my college education .
Upon receiving her nursing credentials , Theresa began working at St . Vincent ' s Hospital in 1952 to 1960 as a Licensed Practical Nurse .
A Home Girl Done Good
She later discovered the yearning inside to help youth and started the School of Modeling and Dance in 1983 which was established to mentor young girls and boys in etiquette , dance and modeling to develop self-esteem . Theresa secured her own building and solicited community leaders in all fields of success to come and partake as role models for the youth . Little did she know , this endeavor would be the first of many stepping stones which would lead her to her career as an educator and school executive .
After retiring from a very stellar career as one of Duval County ' s most decorated Principals ever , Dr . Theresa B . Hodge could not sit still and allow grass to grow under her feet . She took positions in the community that kept her hands on youth for their betterment such as : Principal of Horizons Unlimited Charter School 2001-2003 ; and Program Director of Reed Educational campus 2007-2012 . She is currently serving as the Executive Director of the National Council of Negro Women ' s Reed Educational Campus for Teen Girls .
Tod ay Dr . Theresa B . Hodge works with her non-profit Operation Tum-A-Round and is also a Public Speaker and Seminar Facilitator creating community meeting collaborating partnerships of adults . Fulfilling these needs provides avenues to successful approaches to working on problems and solutions of children . Dr . Hodge ' s Youth Seminars & Conferences allow youth to participate working with strategizes for presenters that identify problematic entities and the youth sees them and what solutions they offer . This is useful and key to targeting youth using Data Driven Data derived from appropriate sources .
This fall Dr . Theresa B . Hodge will be releasing her new book titled ' Desperation in the Trenches ' which appeals to everyone who has ever touched the life of a child . It depicts Operation Tum-A-Round , the first after school program designed and implemented in the state of Florida . Now called " Team-Up ", this program inspired and design by Dr . Hodge is funded by the state of Florida and reaches thousands of children in Duval County .
" Almost every day I meet individuals who were former students of mine and they thank me in different ways that they say I influenced their lives . I usually give them a hug and smile inward thanking the Lord for another humbling experience , grateful to have played a small role in a person ' s success . I truly thank God for the praying spirit of my mother and the blessing of my two wonderful children Anthony L . Wright , his wife Gail , and my daughter Karen " Kai Alece " Hodge . My faith and trust in God keeps me grounded ."
Front Cover Feature Dr . Theresa B . Hodge School Educator , Community Innovator Jacksonville Florida Summer 2014