Debbie has been a teacher and a wildlife rehabilitator since she was a child.

She began by teaching her little brother, Mike, in their basement playroom.
She began her work with animals at about the age of 6 when she began rescuing
and rehabilitating frogs in her neighborhood.

Some people never change, and Debbie is one of them. She followed her lifelong
passion and eventually married and had two children, Christopher (age 31)
and Jennifer (age 29).

During the time she raised her children, she went back to school to acquire first her
B.S. in Environmental Studies from New York State University and then her M.Ed. in
Montessori Integrative Education from The Institute for Educational Studies
at Endicott College in Massachusetts.

She also received her New York Wildlife Rehabilitation License 20 years ago and
continues to rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife.

Debbie knew she would have her own school one day and waited until the time
was right. First, Fledglings Montessori was created here in Vernon in 1997.
About 6 years ago she moved the school to its current location and renamed it
Fields Of Green Montessori, which more accurately depicts the philosophy of the
school and the levels taught.

Debbie has over 20 years of teaching under her belt and continues to be passionate
about the quality of education for children and her role in helping to sustain the planet
by raising youngsters with good ethics about the environment.

She lives in Glen Spey, New York with her 4 dogs, many cats, 1 rabbit,
a ferret and her wild friends that surround them in their forest retreat.
If she ever has spare time, she loves to hike, garden, write and read.