Debra Peppers

One of Debra’s original plays, “Choices,” dealing with teen issues such as peer pressure, eating disorders, drugs, teen pregnancy, and suicide was purchased by Southwestern Bell Telephone and made into a nationally distributed documentary, which eventually won an Emmy Award. Peppers considers her drama and speech classes a “dress rehearsal” for real life experiences. Her classes create, direct, and produce original public service announcements on literacy, child abuse, alcoholism, and school dropouts. She designed a “zero hour” (before school) credit class in technical theater that stemmed from a district mini-grant and now has a two-year waiting list. Each class is allowed to select its own six-week project. Students originate ideas such as developing workshops to include the middle school, ecology play for elementary schools, library instructional videos, lunch time cafeteria performances, and co-projects with other schools. She believes teachers must never forget that public schools are for the public and everyone must take ownership.