When pressed by public school authorities at the age of 12 to identify what career I would pursue, my response was, "I will be a writer." I practiced recording the thoughts, joys, trials and tribulations of adolescence. In high school and in college, I assisted my friends with their writing assignments. This exercise was greatly appreciated, but the truth of the matter is that it benefited me more than anyone!
I graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and in Criminal Justice, to satisfy my interest in writing and a growing social conscience. Every one of my free electives was in art history, earth science or ecology, more of the interests developed in childhood “play.” My parents were both teachers and tried to convince me that I should follow their example. Being young and very shy, I instead pursued a career where I could work with single individuals. I studied counseling and completed training in suicide prevention and crisis intervention. As a social worker, I wrote and instituted employment, health, and career education programs for teens. As a crisis intervention counselor, I worked in the juvenile justice system, volunteered in suicide prevention services, and authored a communication program for teens. I clearly missed my time spent in outdoor exploration, so I turned to a more suitable application of my skills. I became a museum educator and the Director of Iron Hill Museum of Natural History.
While working at the Museum and other ensuing positions, I joyfully practiced new and interesting ways to interpret various topics to others while pursuing my studies of science. As the Park Naturalist at White Clay Creek State Park, I was able to design and teach science, history, and environmental education curriculums for weekly home-school programs, school field trips, and summer camps. Through the years, I conducted hundreds of classes in schools, daycare, and adult educational settings. I am an enthusiastic Naturalist with interests in Geology, Paleontology, Archaeology, Entomology, and Ecology. I have appeared in various venues for many years as a children’s storyteller. As the Asthma Manager and educator for the American Lung Association of Delaware, I served as Asthma Camp Director, designing activities and curriculum, conducting children’s workshops, and training childcare workers. Although I have worked in several fields, they all share a common denominator: my love for interacting with children. I know now that I have been happiest when teaching.
I became an advocate for child-centered educational programs while a substitute teacher at Wilmington Montessori School last year. I was very impressed by what I saw in the teachers and in the students. As I became familiar with the various programs, I found myself being called regularly for pre-school through grade 3 classes. I loved every minute and became convinced that this was an important method for teaching children how to learn. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn! I am tremendously excited about coming to NCCL.
Since my parents, many family friends, and several other relatives were educators, it is not surprising that I married an educator. My husband, Mark, is a former professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Delaware. Although he no longer teaches in a formal setting, he continues to coach me with my writing, since I think he is a better writer than I am! We have two children: a daughter, Tori, aged 19, and a son, Drew, aged 23. My hobbies include rock collecting, fossil collecting, storytelling, birding, insect collecting, and fishing. I recently completed educator training for the Delaware Aquatic Resource Center and also “Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs” instructor certification. I am a volunteer for Children With Challenges, a fishing and nature outing program for children facing difficulties.
Other interests include two trips to study the rainforests in Costa Rica and in Panama. I am currently researching and writing a book about The Pomeroy Railroad and historical sites in the White Clay Creek Valley. As a McKinstry scholar, an excerpt of my work appeared in a publication of the Delaware Heritage Commission this summer. I am also working on research and writing projects with the Pencader Heritage Commission and the Delaware Geologic Survey.
I have, perhaps, fulfilled that 12-year-old child’s notion of being a writer, but have discovered what is really important to me. It is leading the process of discovery and exploration of ideas for today’s aspiring child writers and thinkers, following the example of my childhood mentors in the community of Arden. It is the act of teaching, which I prefer to call interpreting, sharing, exploring, or inspiring. I am once again very fortunate to be able to do this in a unique and rich environment, the Newark Center for Creative Learning."
Debbie began teaching at NCCL in September 2003.