Dorean Brazier is an educator who lives the value of learning. She received her undergraduate degree from MIchigan State University in Special Education/Emotionally Impaired. She continued with a Master’s degree in Special Education/Learning Disabled. Dorean has additional certifications as a Certified Teacher of Dyslexics, a Project Read Trainer and a Reading Specialist. Dorean considered applying for her Ph.D. but chose to make her newborn son her Ph.D.!

Dorean is a long time member of Okemos Public Schools staff at both the elementary and high school level, all as a special education teacher or consultant. She has been at Central, Edgewood, Wardcliff and Cornell. Currently she is at Okemos High School where she has worked for the past 18 years.

Dorean’s family includes Dr. James Brazier, a retired political science professor and current corrections officer. Her Ph.D. project, Dr. Brett Brazier, is a Captain in the Air Force in San Antonio, Texas and is in his 1st year of orthopedic surgery residency.
In her free time Dorean enjoys skiing – water and snow, travelling, reading, playing tennis and golf. Dorean is also a former competitive figure skater and coach.

Thinking about her time in Okemos Dorean notes that it has been “a challenging, exhilarating experience, a place where she has become a lifelong learner and learned to forgive herself when a mistake was made and to forgive others when she was misunderstood. Okemos has been a family experience with tons of support. She gives a huge “Thank you” to all administrators, classroom teachers, special educators, specialists, parents and students who helped her and enriched her life. For Dorean, retirement will not be a day of celebration, rather a sad day for her.”

2019 OEF Awards Banquet
Committment to Excellence Award Recipients – alphabetical listing