Deborah Phelps is widely recognized as an innovative, energetic, and talented leader and master teacher with more than four decades of teaching and administrator experience. A native of Allegany County (Western Maryland), Ms. Phelps received her master’s degree in Education Management & Supervision from Loyola College (MD) and B.A. in Education from Fairmont State College, from which she received the Outstanding Alumnae honor in 2010 and was the Commencement Speaker in 2009. The proud mother of three children and grandmother of six, Ms. Phelps is the Executive Director of The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. She is a motivational speaker and author that addresses a range of topics related to education, child development, health, and life lessons.

As the Executive Director of The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., a private, non-profit charitable organization under IRS section 501 (c) (3), her transformational leadership role not only helps to navigate funds for innovative programs, scholarships, and resources for students and teachers but the establishment of two collaborative educator’s resource centers. A former classroom teacher, school based and district-based leader, Ms. Phelps was eager to tackle a national issue of teachers having a lack of school supplies for their classrooms, Ms. Phelps and team designed two resource centers, The Exchangeree: Gizmos and Gadgets Galore, supporting Baltimore County Public School’s nearly 10,000 teachers and 115,000 students.

Ms. Phelps has served on multiple business and community-advisory boards including the Board of Trustee, the Women’s Leadership Institute of Baltimore (WLIB), and the President’s Advisory Council for the Notre Dame of Maryland and the School of Education Board of Advisors for Loyola University. She is a member of the Chimes International Board of Directors and was honored by Chimes International with the Chimes Going Further to Help Others Go Far recognition. She is a board member on the Junior Achievement of Central Maryland and the Michael Phelps Foundation. She serves on multiple committees in support of the mission/vision/goals of the United Way of Central Maryland. With mentorship being a vital part of the next generation, Ms. Phelps is proud to participate in the BBJ’s Mentoring Monday initiatives.

Debbie’s first Authenica experience was memorable for attendees of the Excellence on the Chesapeake 2016 experience. Hosting a tour of the Michael Phelps Swim School in Baltimore, MD, the visit concluded with attendee Joel “Wave Runner” Lynch swimming a 50-meter freestyle race against the school’s Olympic hopeful! Thereafter, Debbie delivered a moving Fireside Chat on the topic of Mental Health at the Southern Excellence event on Sea Island, GA in 2018, and, she also supported the Two Mints private event experience at Charm City Cakes serving as judge of the cupcake decorating competition!

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