...about me My name is Debra
Helveston. I was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. From my earliest memories of childhood, I always dreamed
of being a teacher. When I was young I would gather all my friends from the neighborhood and play school on our screened
porch~~with me as teacher, of course.
When I graduated high school I went to work
for a local television station. The highlight of my tenure at WALA-TV was meeting President Ronald Reagan. I'll
never forget his delightful smile as he entered the front door of the station, hand outstretched offering a warm handshake,
a pat to the back, and a gentle kiss on the cheek to one of his most avid fans....you guessed it....ME!
I worked my way through college at The University
of South Alabama Medical Center as a medical records clerk. When I graduated from The University of South Alabama, Mr.
Isum Richardson, principal at Indian Springs Elementary School offered me my first teaching position. I taught fourth
grade with 38 students in my class. To me, this was heaven on earth. I couldn't believe they would actually pay
me for doing something I loved so much!!
I remained at Indian Springs for eight years.
In 1989, I moved to Savannah, GA. There
I worked at BEKARE as Assistant Director. This was a BE&K Construction Company Daycare that offered day-care
services to their employees. Everyone at BEKARE was a certified teacher.
In 1991, I moved back to Mobile. Mr.
William Jessie offered me a teaching position in sixth grade social studies. I taught social studies
at Azalea Middle School for four years. The next four years at Azalea I taught CCC Reading/Math
in the Title One Computer Lab.
This is my ninth year at Semmes
Middle School~~the LARGEST and BEST Middle School in the state of ALABAMA!
