Carolyne McCord of Knoxville created a website with online resources aimed at destigmatizing dyslexia. Her efforts resulted in her earning a 2022 Girl Scout Gold Award.      

Gold Award Girl Scouts are high schoolers who address issues they’re passionate about by planning and implementing a project that produces lasting change in the community and beyond. It is the Girl Scouts’ highest and most prestigious honor.

“Being a dyslexic student myself, I wanted to help other students who felt like I did and give them resources to make life better at school,” Carolyne shares. “Parental and teacher support are vital in helping dyslexic students succeed in the classroom, so I created a space for all three on my website. My hope is that students like me do not feel alone and can find ways to excel in the classroom.”

The website is called Dyslexic Views and, in addition to a blog section, offers excellent resources for parents, students, and teachers – from links to audio books, to dyslexia tests and assessments.

Carolyne worked with her mentor and journalism teacher, Amanda Wash, to create the project. Working through the learning curve of building a website was an obstacle she overcame, but she found advertising the website on Instagram came naturally since she was more familiar with the platform through experience gained by managing her high school’s journalism Instagram account.

Carolyne and her project mentor, Amanda Wash

It was difficult to schedule interviews with contributors and consultants such as teachers and school board members – especially during a global pandemic – but she persevered all while working, dancing with an ensemble, applying for colleges, and completing her senior year of high school. Her personal traits of being determined and resilient certainly helped!

Looking back on her time in Girl Scouts, the memory of visiting Savannah, Georgia, the birthplace of Girl Scouts USA founder Juliette Gordon Low, is among her favorites. “I was in sixth grade, and in addition to the tour of Juliette Gordon Low’s home, we went on a dolphin cruise, enjoyed the beach and city, and visited a lighthouse on Tybee Island.”

Carolyne working on her website

Carolyne enjoys spending time with family – including her parents, two older brothers and cousins in Nashville – as well as her dance ensemble friends, her dog, Gunner, and boyfriend. In addition to ballet, she likes cycling, boating, snowboarding, and shopping.

She’s currently attending High Point University in High Point, North Carolina, majoring in event management. She is active in a sorority and mentors with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater High Point. She hopes to pursue her master’s degree as well. 

Congratulations, Carolyne! Visit girlscoutcsa.org to learn more about the Girl Scouts.