Dr. Terriyln Rivers-Cannon, Ed.D
“Individually We are One Drop,
But Together We are a Body of Water”
— Dr. RC
About Dr. RC
Dr. RC’s Bio
Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Dr. Terriyln C. Rivers-Cannon is an Inspirational, out-of-the-box thinker/leader, and School Social Worker who Motivates, Empowers, as well as Inspires all those who she comes in contact with on a local, state and national level. Terriyln has devoted over 18 years to improving the lives of all school-aged population by serving in her role of a child advocate by Providing appropriate interventions and services that help hundreds of children and families each year who are at risk for educational failure and more.
She has received Both her Doctor of Educational Leadership — 2007, Educational Specialist — 2006 degrees from Argosy University, Sarasota Fl, a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Florida State University — 1993, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Voorhees College in 1990.
Terriyln is a certified School Worker, Clinical Trauma Specialist-S (CCTSS) Sex-Trafficking and Exploitation, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Facilitator with the Council on Alcohol and Drugs for both STOP and SUPER Stop Programs (Alcohol & Drug prevention program), and Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor for Suicide Prevention. Facilitator as a Darkness to Light Sexual Abuse Prevention Training from Stewards of Children, Certified in Mental Health First Aid, Suicide Prevention Trainer: Lifelines — Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, Trauma/Brain 201 — Building Resiliency and Check in Connect.
In 2021 Dr. Rivers-Cannon can be noted as being featured in FOX, NBC, and CBS News. She was also presented with a Georgia Department of Education Certificate during the State Board meeting in Recognition of Exemplary Leadership for
representing Georgia’s Public Schools with Distinction as the 2019 National School Social Worker, along with being the First Female African American, and Georgia recipient by School Superintendent Richard Woods in 2020.
Dr. Rivers-Cannon has also been inducted in the Hall of Fame at Voorhees College where she attended school. She received a Letter of Recognition from Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lace Bottoms, recipient of the Florida State University’s “Distinguished Alumni in Social Work Practice Award”, a United States Representatives Proclamation from the U.S. Representative Henry “Hank” Johnson Jr. of the 4th Congressional District — Designated 5th as Dr. Terriyln Rivers-Cannon Day, A RESOLUTION – signed by Senator Tonya Anderson – District 43, recipient of the APSyes Award (Atlanta Public School System), and the host of “Dare to Soar with Dr. R.C.” that is a syndicated radio/talk show on over 10 social media platforms including Amazon’s Alexa/Echo. She is also listed as #5 in the Top-20 Social Work Podcast in the nation – 2021, and #6 – 2020 along with collaborating on several publications with the Georgia Department of Education as well as the School Social Workers Association of America.
Dr. RC’s Role
Dr. Terriyln C. Rivers-Cannon, “Dr. RC,” is a School Social Worker in the Atlanta, Georgia Public School System who has devoted the last 18 years to improving the lives of Georgia’s school-aged population. Her role is that of a child advocate, providing appropriate interventions and services that help hundreds of children and their families each year who are at risk for educational failure.
Changing Staff, Organizations, & Communities
Dr. RC has a clear understanding of the multiple challenges that are encountered by our youth of today in as well as outside of the home, and has therefore vowed to be that voice of advocacy and understanding for all that she may come in contact with. Furthermore, she believes that all stakeholders play a vital role in the potential growth of the village by always, “Paving the Way for Change” by investing in the goals and objectives of those future leaders of tomorrow.
Academic Education & Professional Training
Dr. RC received the Doctor of Educational Leadership degree from Argosy University, Sarasota, FL in 2007, Educational Specialist – 2006 – Argosy University, Sarasota, and her Master of Social Work in 1993 from Florida State University. She is certified as a School Social Worker, Clinical Trauma Specialist-S (CCTSS) Sex Trafficking and Exploitation by the Arizona Trauma Institute International, Mental Health First Aid Instructor by the National Council for Behavioral Health, Facilitator with the Council on Alcohol and Drugs for both STOP and SUPER Stop Programs, and Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor for Suicide Prevention. Facilitator as a Darkness to Light Sexual Abuse Prevention Training from Stewards of Children, Certified in Mental Health First Aid, Suicide Prevention Trainer: Lifelines – Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, Trauma/Brain 201 – Building Resiliency, and Check & Connect
Book Dr. RCPROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING
- Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist-S (CCTSS) Sex trafficking and exploitation by the Arizona Trauma Institute – Trauma Institute International
- Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor by the National Council for Behavioral Health
Memberships & Affiliations
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Stone Mountain Lithonia Alumna Chapter – SM-LAC)
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
- National Association of Social Worker-Georgia Chapter (GA-NASW)
- School Social Workers Association of Georgia (SSWAG)
- School Social Workers Association of America -Southern Regional Representative
- School Social Workers Association of America (SSWAA)
- Endowment Board Member (2018–2020)
- School Social Work Association of Georgia (State President 2017-2019)
- The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW)
- Women of Distinction (WOD)
- International Association of Women (IAW)
- Georgia Association of Educators (GAE)
- Professional Association of Educators (PAGE)
Past Professional Affiliations
- School Social Workers Association of Georgia (Delegate Assembly Representative)
- DeKalb Co. PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) District 11 Membership Chair
- School Social Work Association of Georgia (SSWAG) District 4- Vice President (Atlanta Public, Clayton, Decatur City, DeKalb, Fulton, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale County Public School Systems)
- School Social Work Association of Georgia (SSWAG) District 4-President (Atlanta Public, Clayton, Decatur City, DeKalb, Fulton, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale County Public School Systems)
- School Social Work Association of Georgia (SSWAG) State Vice-President (2016–2017)
- School Social Workers Association of Georgia (Delegate Assembly Representative)
- National Association of Social Worker- Delegate Assembly
- Nominating Committee Chair for SSWAG (School Social Work Association of Georgia)
- Strathmore World Wide Women of Excellence