SPO Connection - Achievement Award
Keshawn Dodds
Founder’s
RECOGNITION
HONORING KESHAWN DODDS
Educator | Author | CEO | Motivational Leader | Community Builder
Supporting Positive Opportunity Connection
With great appreciation for your unwavering commitment to education, youth empowerment, and inspiring excellence through leadership, service, and storytelling.
Keshawn, your journey from the classroom to the mayor’s office, from the gridiron to the boardroom, and from Springfield to national bookshelves is a true testament to the values at the heart of SPO Connection.
You teach with purpose.
You lead with vision.
You inspire through mentorship.
We proudly honor your continued impact, and thank you for being a guiding light for youth and community.
Presented with gratitude and admiration,
Charles King
Founder, Supporting Positive Opportunity Connection
August 2, 2025
My Story
Keshawn Dodds was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, on February 24, 1978. Becoming known as a well-established football player in Springfield, he was awarded a football scholarship to American International College in 1997. Mr. Dodds played football all four years at A.I.C., and later graduated with a B.S. in Education in 2001 and a Master of Education in 2009.
After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, Keshawn became a fourth and fifth-grade elementary school teacher in Springfield Public Schools. Mr. Dodds taught at the Homer and Washington Elementary Schools from 2001 – 2005 during his tenure. He later worked under Springfield’s Mayor, Charles V. Ryan, as a Mayoral Aide. After his time in the mayor’s office, Keshawn returned to AIC, and worked there for ten years as the Director of Diversity and Community Engagement position. Mr. Dodds spent eight years as the Executive Director of the Springfield, MA, Boys and Girls Club Family Center, and is now the new CEO/Director of Operations of the Hatfield Rally House, a new indoor tennis and pickleball facility in Hatfield, MA.
Writing:
Along Mr. Dodds’ career journey, he has also become a published author of a juvenile fiction series known as the Menzuo – Solar Warriors series. Keshawn has written eight books within the series after rebranding it through Cosby Media Productions in 2010. In October of the same year, it went on to become an Amazon.com bestselling book.
Keshawn is an avid writer and a strong supporter of education. His longterm goal is to become a well-known educational advocate and motivational speaker. Keshawn wants to continue spreading his word of faith toward obtaining a great education and achieving all the goals that a person has set. Being raised by his mother, Elizabeth Dodd, Keshawn was always instilled with what a good education can bring to a person. Mr. Dodds firmly believes that success is born when hard work meets dedication.