Deborah Strelec:
CLASS OF 1986
Summerville High SchoolClass of 1986
Summerville, SC
Converse CollegeClass of 1990
Spartanburg, SC
Deborah's Story
School
My school bio - Boring but true!
THAT'S WHY I KEPT IT SHORT!
I felt like I was always at school and now - as a teacher of deaf/hard of hearing - i'm STILL at school on a daily basis.
After being pulled off of the football field in the middle of graduation I went to work at Polaris missle facility for the summer before starting at Converse College.
During the 4 years there I worked at the S.C. School for the Deaf to help pay the part of tuition that my scholarship didnt cover (Yes i did study for a reason in HS!!)
So I did not party nearly enough. Actually I didnt acquire the skill of partying until - hows this for weird - I got divorced - this put me out on the singles scene -
Those of you who knew me well knew that I had THE STRICTEST of parents so going out wasnt done often - i didnt even get to use the phone during the school week -so this DATING thing that i am doing now is WILD!
Workplace
I have been doing the same job in different counties, classrooms and settings since the day I graduated every year but one. I am - as expected, predicted still working with the Deaf/Hard of Hearing population. I have the added benefit of also being a part of the preschool disabilities program.
I have had my own classroom, team taught, and am AGAIN serving students in an itinerant model- which means - I travel to several schools across the county in one day. Most would hate it - but I LOVE IT - WHY - I get to work with almost all of my students one on one - so if they aren't learning - I KNOW IT - there is no deniability in this job. I also get to move on with them from year to year. I watch them through their whole school career and wouldnt miss any of it. My youngest student right now is 4 -...Expand for more
totally deaf and learning to sign - She amazes me and herself on a daily basis - I would take her home if I could - My oldest student is 18 - all she wants is to graduate but once she's done she'll miss school so much she just doesnt realize how much (Did any of us?)
I have been actively involved in the Special Olympics as well as the Council for Exceptional Children. I currently serve on the Executive board (is that scary or what). I am a member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and have been since my first year of teaching. PAGE as an organization has been there for me when my supervisors weren't.
During my past few summers I have taught the Preschool Disabilities class - they are so cute, sweet and need so much.
Last year I tried something new - I taught normal high school students - AAAAGGHHH - there is a program at our local university (Georgia Southern University) called UPWARD BOUND - kids who want to go to college but have MANY strikes against them and without help wouldnt even get in the door- ANYWAY - I taught sign language - Did u know it is now classified as a foreign language - YAY - The experience and the kids were wonderful!!
oh and that year off - I taught regular preschool in Hinesville GA - the lottery program - Loved the kids and learned a big lesson - I always complained because the parents of my deaf kids never learned to sign and talk to their kids - these parents spoke the same language as their kids and STILL didnt talk to them - I cant even imagine not talking to my son about his likes/dislikes/friends and enemies - geez - some people have different priorities though
Well thats about it for work - I cant believe I've been teaching for over a dozen years now!
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