Retired Educator | Executive Director, New Pathways Family Life Skills

Shawn first connected with Life Skills in 2022, when she stumbled upon a book by its founder Dr. Paul Hegstrom. In search of help for her marriage, she traveled to Iowa to take the “Learning to Live, Learning to Love” Intensive. (At the time, there were no active affiliates in the Maryland area.) Admittedly believing that the course would be all about her husband, she was genuinely surprised to learn so much about herself and her own arrested development. She learned how wounds from her childhood had caused her to grow up to be a people-pleasing perfectionist who often built emotional walls to protect herself from being rejected.

When Shawn returned to Maryland, she energetically told anyone who would listen about this life-changing program. Several people encouraged her to consider becoming a facilitator herself, and many lamented that – though interested in taking the course themselves - traveling to Iowa was not feasible for them. A month after her class, Shawn commenced her previously announced retirement. She had spent almost 30 years as a teacher and instructional leader in Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools.

With newly acquired flexibility and fresh eyes on the impact that own maturation was having on her emotional well-being, her marriage, and her family, Shawn felt led to open a Life Skills affiliate to serve Baltimore and the DMV. With the help of a generous donation, Shawn opened New Pathways Family Life Skills, Inc. in the spring of 2024, securing its 501(c)(3) status in the summer.

She serves as the Executive Director and facilitates the women’s classes in Maryland. She also remains connected to students in the public school system, as a mother, and a substitute school bus driver. She aspires to bring the “Learning to Live, Learning to Love” curriculum to many areas of her community, including the court system, faith-based organizations, family social services, employee assistance programs, and, of course, educational school systems.

Pastor of Grace Beyond the Walls | Founder & Executive Director, Philemon Ministry |

CEO, Home for Good Cleaning and Landscaping

Antoine Payne is a visionary leader committed to faith, transformation, and community restoration. For the past 16 years, he has dedicated his life to helping men successfully reintegrate into society from incarceration, ensuring they come home for good; spiritually and purposefully. As a pastor and executive director of a Christian reentry ministry, he works to restore lives and challenge narratives around redemption. He is also the CEO of Home for Good Cleaning and Landscaping, creating employment opportunities for returning citizens.

At a turning point in his leadership, Antoine sought renewed vision and personal growth. When approached to help launch the Life Skills Affiliate that would serve his community, he reluctantly attended an accelerated course in Iowa. It was an experience that proved to be life-changing.

For the first time, he confronted his own unresolved wounds and personal growth gaps. Concepts like “arrested development” and “pseudo personality” were especially eye-opening and impactful to him. He realized he had been pouring into others while neglecting himself. More importantly, he saw that Life Skills wasn’t just for him; it was exactly what the men he served needed.

Now a committed Facilitator for Life Skills, Antoine remains engaged with the program, introducing others to its transformative power. He believes every person, regardless of background, can benefit from this life-changing curriculum and he is passionate about equipping men with the tools to break destructive cycles, to heal, and to embrace their full potential.