Inspiring lives, one child at a time: Deborah “Debby” Reneau, a pillar of Santa Elena Primary School

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Teachers are society’s heroes, they are our children’s second moms, they are nurses, counsellors, therapists and social workers.

Very few times in your educational journey, you will come across a teacher whose heart and dedication is openly demonstrated among students, her colleagues and her community.

The Vice Principal of Santa Elena Primary in Santa Elena, Cayo, Deborah “Debby” Reneau is the embodiment of an inspirational, dedicated, passionate and courageous educator.

Her colleagues describe her as a “selfless mentor” who continues to work tirelessly for the future of our children.

 “Ms Debby is a selfless mentor who through the years has tirelessly worked for the betterment of the future generations of Santa Elena, she has sacrificed her own time, finances and family just to put a smile in the children that she so loves. Ms Debby is definitely a role model to follow,” Juan Gonzalez, Standard 6 teacher said.

“Mrs. Debby is a dedicated person, very knowledgeable, a person with vision, firm but friendly, caring. She is always there for students, parents and teachers. She loves technology and keeps up with the modern world. Ms Debby is very humble, honest and bold,” Felipa Jones, Standard 6 teacher added.

“I feel proud and honoured that I have been working with Mrs. Debby since 2008. I can clearly recall being a new teacher, knowing very little about teaching and pedagogy, Mrs. Debby mentored me and coached me to be the best teacher I could be. It is because of her I am the teacher that I am today, her passion for education, proactive attitude, and innovativeness has truly morphed me into a passionate teacher. It is indeed a privilege to be working with a woman so keen on pursuing excellence in education. She has revolutionized teaching at Santa Elena Primary School and Belize on a whole. I call her the face of Education,” expressed Tracy Augustine, Standard 1 teacher.

By parents, Miss Debby is described as being an awe-inspiring educator who is passionate, respectful and genuinely cares for the holistic well-being of all students.

“Ms. Debby is a motivated educator who strives for excellence inside and outside of the classroom. She is invested in students growing and developing intellectually but also artistically, emotionally and goes that extra mile to intervene when she needs to, to assist and advice and motivate parents,” a parent told BBN.

Her passion for education and the betterment of her community is also evident among other educators that have the opportunity to network with her.

“Miss Deborah Reneau is the epitome of educational leadership, passionate, committed, innovative. She has acknowledged the call of God in her life. She is a teacher of teachers and coupled with that is her love for learning, that is why she is a lifelong learner. The entire school community, teachers, students, parents know her as a true educator, known for doing her best and always moving forward. She is innovative, driven to find answers to issues and questions and challenges posed, knowing that what she learns and what she teaches goes far beyond her personal growth and development, it is to benefit her, her school and her wider community,” Abigail Wade, Former Special Education Itinerant Resource Personnel at the Ministry of Education.

“Deborah has unique ability to connect people with something bigger than themselves. She is an administrator who model’s efficacy and a growth mindset.  As a lifelong learner herself, she sets an example to her students and colleagues to learn all they can to be better versions of themselves. She has been steadfast in her pursuit to make education engaging, interpersonal and collaborative as well as fun,” commented Dr. Jennifer Clark- Headmaster of Excel Christian Academy, Lakeland Florida.

“Michigan State University College of Social Science has proudly collaborated with Santa Elena Primary School and Deborah Reneau on a community engagement program in which its students assist in the classroom for one week each year in March. Ms. Debby’s assistance in facilitating this student experience has been invaluable. She has made our students feel welcome and a part of the school. Past MSU participants in the program have spoken highly of the transformative experience of this community engagement program”, Marcie Cowley Assistant Professor Center for Integrative Studies Social Science stated.

“Mrs. Reneau is a compassionate and trusted leader of the SEPS community. With patience, insight, fair perspectives, and a huge heart, she positively impacts the SEPS community (teachers, learners, and families) and holds a vision of a better tomorrow,” Susan Stephens- Lausanne Collegiate School, Learning Specialist expressed.

“Miss Debby” told BBN that teaching is about connecting with people daily and building relationships.

“Teaching can never be said to be a stagnant profession. Everything is constantly changing, evolving, and developing. Being in this profession for 30 years has taught me the importance of being adept at building relationships with people. If you don’t like people you shouldn’t be an administrator. You have to be able to connect with each person you deal with on a daily basis. You have to find common ground and earn their trust. There are many groups of people that administrators deal with daily including their teachers, support staff, parents, students, and community members. Every group requires a different approach, and individuals within a group are unique in their own right. You never know who is going to walk into your office next. People come in with various emotions including happiness, sadness, and anger. You have to be able to deal with each of those situations effectively by connecting with the person and showing them that you care about their unique situation. They have to believe you will do whatever you can to improve their situation. This not only requires excellent communication skills, but emotional intelligence to be able to empathize and relate with other people,” Miss Debby stated.

Miss Debby added that as a school leader, she is adept at building relationships and connecting with people inside and outside the school.

“The foundation of these relationships includes respect and trust. The power of relationships can never be understated in education,” she added.

Reneau recently finished her thesis defense on Relationship Building and what teachers need from leaders to develop their Social Emotional Learning Competencies.

BBN joins in wishing Miss Debby a Happy Teacher’s Day!

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