CEC 100th Anniversary Series #10 Dr. Debra LeBlanc “Leading with Kindness”

Debra LeBlanc, Ed.D. earned her masters and doctorate degrees at Northern Illinois University.   The primary focus of her studies was curriculum and leadership practices.  She has devoted her career to those with special needs first as a teacher, then an administrator. She has been a principal in an elementary and middle school district for 25 years and at the same time was the special education coordinator. Currently, she serves as the director of student services in a suburban Chicago school district. She was Chair of the teacher leadership and principal preparation programs at Aurora University. She has been recognized for her leadership by the DuPage County Schools and Illinois Principals Association with awards for elementary principal of the year, Illinois State Board of Education’s “Those Who Excel” Award of Excellence, and the Herman Graves Award, the highest award given to an Illinois principal.  She is equally as passionate about developing teacher leaders.  She is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society of key women educators and is the nominee for the International President of this organization.  Dr. LeBlanc is also a co-chair of the Powered by Teach to Lead Summit, where the mission is to build a sustainable culture for teacher leadership in Illinois.  The primary goal is to increase success for all students through teacher leadership in instruction, professional collaboration, policy, and advocacy.  She has published multiple articles on this initiative.  The sixth Summit will be held March 2023 in Normal, Illinois.