Dr. Deborah Gilman is one of our school’s most trusted counselors, specializing in interlude therapy. Dr. Gilman has been an integral part of our school’s community for the past 5 years and will be retiring at the end of the school year. She aids students in self-advocacy, helps them set goals, and gain confidence. Gilman notes the generosity and kindness that she felt throughout her time at our school, from beginning to end.
“The staff were really friendly and I got to know people quickly…one thing that’s been nice is each year as I work with students who have different teachers, I’ve gotten to know staff, more and more staff each year, so it’s really nice,” Gilman said.
Gilman’s work stretches across grades, personalities, and lives. There is not a student at our school who has not felt her impact in one way or another. She has the ability to connect with people of all backgrounds and make them feel welcome. It is not an easy job and Dr. Gilman is often an unsung hero.
“It’s really rewarding, really challenging in a really positive way, but it can also be stressful. There’s a lot going on, a lot of competing responsibilities,” Gilman said.
When challenges arise and life feels stressful, Gilman says community is the best way to through these difficulties is community.
“Being able to reach out to colleagues, for students to be able to reach out to peers, reach out to trusted adults, and navigate those challenges,” Gilman said.
Her favorite memory about working at our school is seeing the growth of the students she has worked with. Dr. Gilman has given her students the ability to connect with others and learn at their own pace.
“Seeing kids’ growth, maybe they push themselves outside their comfort zone and they’re able to, you know, manage a challenge that they weren’t able to before. Seeing them develop positive connections and make friends, those kinds of things are definitely the best part,” Gilman said.
Dr. Gilman embodies the spirit of our school and has given everything to our community. She hopes that people remember her as a teacher who created a safe space for students to work through challenges and helped others gain self-knowledge. She wants students to feel confident making friends and carry themselves through life with resilience and joy.
Thank you for all you have done for our school, and congratulations on an incredibly impactful career, Dr. Gilman!
