Deb L. Marciano, Ph.D.

Educator, Writer, Editor, Consultant

Philosophy

Inspiration - Jon Blais former student, ALS Warrior Poet

Curious George lookalike

WILD THINGS

My family of readers

As a young girl, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, like my dad. His enthusiasm for learning, coaching, and making a positive difference in the lives of his students and community shaped my path of having a similar impact on my future students. Now, with 20+ years of teaching experience at the preschool through graduate college level, I have realized my dreams.

My involvement with professional organizations at the classroom, district, state, national, and international levels provide opportunities to share my love of learning, knowledge of literacy and teacher education, and love of children's literature with diverse audiences. I believe we learn from and with one another, and this philosophy provides a model for my students of the importance of networking and being lifelong learners.

A major component of my teaching at the university level has included program development. While in its initial stages of establishing an elementary education program, I served on the Fourth-Year Elementary Education Committee at Penn State Altoona. As Coordinator of Elementary Education at Washington College, I have revised course sequences to better student experiences. I have served on a 30+ member Professional Development School Steering Committee, revised and written policy for PDS, all in addition to teaching eleven different courses at Washington College. At Rhode Island College, Penn State University (both at the University Park and Altoona campuses) I have supervised student teaching interns, and advised students.

I currently serve on the International Outreach Committee for the Association of Childhood Education International (ACEI), and as the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee for the Children's Literature Assembly (CLA). I am a reviewer for The Journal of Children's Literature, and have been a reviewer for conference proposals, textbooks, conference proceedings, and Children's Literature in Education. Through these activities, I have been able to network with and learn from educators around the world.

As a reviewer of children's literature, I created Blog Blog (Book Lovers' On-Line Gallery) offering my students' and my own suggestions for literature enhancement activities of some of our favorite children's books. To provide resources for students, teachers, and others interested in education, I created a second Blog, Elementary Essentials for Teachers.

In addition, I have been a curriculum developer for Geographic Informational Systems (GIS) for Elementary Grades, through the Washington College Department of GIS and the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit (TIU). The modules are published on Moodle, an open source community web management system. I have connected the use of GIS and children's literature, also on the site.

I am a life-long learner who strives to instill that curiosity, desire for excellence, and perseverance in my students. I know I have met that goal many times over, as I hear from former students about their own classroom activities.

I do what I love, and I love what I do. Yet, as the Renaissance master, Michelangelo said at age 85, "Ancora imparo' - I am still learning." I, too, am still learning. THAT is what being a teacher is all about.