Hello, my name is Teresa Chandler. I am a life long resident of Dickson County. I am beyond
thankful and blessed to say my parents have been married for 55 years and still reside where I
grew up in the little town of Slayden. I have two brothers, Terry and Todd, who mean the world
to me as well. Last but definitely not least I have a beautiful daughter, Rachel Siler who is now
25 years old.
I graduated from Dickson County High School in 1983. I went on to attend Austin Peay State
University and graduate in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education. I also earned a
Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in blind and visual impairments from Vanderbilt
University in 1992.
I started teaching at Dickson Junior High School in August 1988, where I spent the majority of
my teaching career. I did spend one year being the county’s vision teacher and another year
working at Vanleer Elementary. I transferred to Dickson County High School in August 2008
where I remained for 11 years. This past May I retired from teaching after 31 years.
Now for a little of my story- I found myself in an unexpected season of my life. I was facing a
divorce at the age of 52. My world was shattered in one day. I cried, prayed, and called out to
God. It is so sad how we only seem to remember Him when we have no where else to turn. I
seem to have been guilty of this my whole life. I prayed and begged and pleaded for my
marriage to be saved. I found myself searching. I started attending Cross Point, and I became
involved in a group for new Christians. I had been saved since the age of 12 but never fully
submitted myself to the Lord. I can’t help but think of Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the
way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Forever grateful I had
grandparents and parents who carried me to church and taught me about Christ
Somewhere in my dark journey I changed. I finally realized I wasn’t in control of my life. I
started praying for God’s will in my life. I began asking God to use me, to change me. I wanted
to serve in any capacity I could. I wanted to spend the rest of my days on Earth following God’s
plan for my life. I stepped outside of the “me” box and realized that what I had been through
might not have a thing to do with me but with others who found themselves in the same
situation. I have been told how strong I was during this dark season of my life. This strength
definitely wasn’t me but came from my savior. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.” I am far from perfect as is my life, but I thank God every day that
I am forgiven.
My unexpected season delivered me to Care Net’s doors. I attended a Care Net Banquet as I had
many times before, but this time I was led to check the box to volunteer. I thought I would be
such a blessing to them… Little did I know they were my blessing. I started volunteering in
January 2018 and came on staff part time in September 2018. Now I am the face you see when
you walk through the doors of Care Net. I weathered through my dark season- actually my
blessing in disguise- and came out on the other side with new friends and opportunities I would
not have had without experiencing the painful season of my life. I am so humbled to be able to
serve in Care Net’s ministry.
Care Net is here for our community. Not only do we offer pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and
counseling for expectant mothers, we offer an abortion recovery program for women with an
abortion in their past. To help us continue to offer such services in our community, we need
YOU at Care Net. We need volunteers to answer phones, donate clothes, sort clothes, or become
client advocates. If you don’t have the time to devote, we are always in need of financial support
and your continued prayers.