WINTERVILLE, NC, January 14, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Mary Leslie Brandon has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individual profiles are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Brandon's professional journey is marked by a steadfast commitment to service, education and advocacy for children with special needs. Her most recent role involved working as a special education instructor with Bridgeton Public Schools in New Jersey, from 2002 to 2015, during which she worked with students across a broad spectrum of abilities and challenges, including those with autism, Down syndrome, physical, emotional, and learning disabilities and speech difficulties. She taught children from preschool through high school over 25 years, dedicating herself to fostering learning growth and communication skills in her students.

Among Ms. Brandon's proudest achievements during her tenure was helping a young boy with autism speak his first word in his native language; a moment she regards as a significant milestone in her teaching career. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in supporting a high school student who struggled with attention issues, encouraging her to seek medical testing for attention deficit disorder, and ultimately helping her find strategies for academic success.

Earlier in her educational career, Ms. Brandon spent three years as a special needs teacher at the Prince William County Juvenile Detention Center in Virginia. She worked with 12-18 years old youth facing significant legal and academic challenges, striving to provide stability and academic learning in their lives in this setting.

Ms. Brandon also contributed as a substitute teacher while completing her master's certification, gaining experience across different grade levels and learning environments. This period provided her with valuable insights into the diverse needs of students and reinforced her dedication to inclusive, compassionate education. Prior to her teaching career and during her master's program, Ms. Brandon served as an executive assistant to the director at a Virginia Orthopedic Research Institute. This position required her to further hone her skills in critical research and written organization within her job; skills that would later support her endeavors in special education settings and her production of written Individual Education Plans (IEP) for each student. Ms. Brandon also spent over 15 years in the U.S. Navy in the communication and cryptology fields, and she was the Officer-in-Charge of a Naval Detachment in Australia at a classified Joint Country Military Base before returning to civilian life as a teacher.

To share insights and expand her network while furthering her mission of helping others in her retirement years, Ms. Brandon has been actively involved in professional organizations such as the Council for Exceptional Children and other local NC children's organizations. She is also a past board member of the Magnolia Arts Center in Greenville, North Carolina, reflecting her active commitment to both education and the arts.

Ms. Brandon's own academic background includes a Master of Education in special education from George Mason University, completed in 1998. Her graduate studies focused on learning disabilities and emotional disturbances, equipping her with specialized knowledge to address the unique needs of her students. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education from Catawba College, Salisbury, NC, in 1975. Her Midwest-raised parents instilled strong ethics, morals, and resourcefulness in their children, which Ms. Brandon credits their early lessons for helping her navigate life's challenges and ever-continuing personal growth in all that she does.

Beyond formal education, Ms. Brandon values lifelong learning through reading and research; interests that extend into her involvement with community theater projects and community initiatives. She maintains strong connections within the Emerge Arts community in Greenville and collaborates with faculty individuals at East Carolina University to broaden her perspectives. Her pursuit of further education was motivated by a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of children after completing her education career in 2015. Recognizing the importance of advanced community training, Ms. Brandon undertook coursework that deepened her socio-economic understanding of the impact of special needs children on the family, which further prepared her for roles helping children across varied community settings. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ms. Brandon is passionate about theater acting, directing community theater productions and participating in local arts events. She enjoys organizing original play competitions and remains dedicated to promoting the values and excitement of the arts throughout her community and beyond.

Looking toward the future, Ms. Brandon intends to further pursue her theater interests by directing new productions at Magnolia Arts Center. She is keen to volunteer with children from all socioeconomic backgrounds and committed to advancing literacy and language understanding within her community. With her basic conversational Spanish skills, she also connects with members of the local Hispanic community by greeting and introducing herself in their native language – an effort that underscores her longstanding dedication to inclusivity and forging meaningful connections.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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