Dwayne Byndloss

Mr. Byndloss was born and raised in East Oakland, California. He graduated from Castlemont High School and went directly to San Francisco State University (SFSU). At SFSU, Mr. Byndloss earned degrees in Mechanical Engineering and African Studies with a behavioral and social science concentration.

Mr. Byndloss attended California State University, East Bay for graduate school. He earned a Masters degree in Counseling with a dual emphasis in school counseling and marriage and family therapy. Mr. Byndloss also earned a Pupil Personal Services (PPS) certification.

Mr. Byndloss began working with youth part-time as an undergraduate student. He started with the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program as a tutor at Martin Luther King Middle School in Berkeley, California; and quickly became in charge of an entire site at Willard Middle School in Berkeley, California.

While working at Willard Mr. Byndloss accepted a full-time counselor position for African American at-risk youth with Berkeley Asian Youth Center's (EBAYC) multicultural Real Alternative Project, currently known as the RISE Project, a community based non-profit youth development agency. Mr. Byndloss served youth and their families through this program as a counselor and education director for 12 years in Berkeley and Oakland, California.

After earning his Masters degree Mr. Byndloss began working as an academic counselor for Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) at Oakland High School and Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) at Longfellow Middle School.

Mr. Byndloss's philosophy to counseling:

1. One of the best ways to help youth is by helping their parents.
2. Youth that have identified their gift to the world (career exploration and identification) are more resilient.
3. Advocating for institutional and societal change is just as important as fostering change in youth on and individualized level.
4. Youth perform better when they have “developed relationships” with caring adults.
5. Students' emotional and physical needs must also be met in order for them to excel to their full potential (Whole Child Theory).
6. An accurate understanding of one's own history and the history of others is crucial in terms of character development and critical thinking. (Psycho-Educational Approach).

Awards
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Member of the Year 1996, 1997
5 year Community Service Reward EBAYC's Real Alternative Project (1995)
10 Year Community Service Reward EBAYC'S Higher Learning Project (2000)
GEAR UP Top Parent Institute in the State 2004, 2005