Deborah (Debbie) Thompson
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Deborah relocated to Tampa, Florida in 2004 with her husband, Flemon and son, Isiah. Prior to leaving New York, Deborah obtained a B.A. degree from Clark University (Worcester, MA); a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook; a Post-Graduate Certificate in Clinical Practice from Adelphi University (Garden City, NY) and an Advanced Certificate in Educational Administration and Supervision (Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY).
Prior to obtaining her MSW, Deborah was the Director of an after-school program with the YMCA of Long Island. While there, Deborah discovered her passion for working with children and families. It was incredibly rewarding to witness children and families flourish in a supportive, nurturing environment. After earning her MSW, Deborah worked for 23 years as a school social worker at the Roosevelt Middle and Senior High School on Long Island. Deborah provided services and interventions for students through counseling and collaborative efforts with families, the staff and the broader community to support the student’s academic, emotional and social well-being. Within the Roosevelt Public Schools, she utilized her Advanced Certificate in Educational Administration to serve as the Chairperson for the District’s Advisory Council for Wellness, Violence Prevention and Safe and Drug Free Schools. This committee engaged students, parents, faculty and community stakeholders to collect, assess and utilize data to determine effective programs and interventions to address student needs. From this body, programs were designed and implemented that significantly impacted students’ academic success. This was one of the highlights of Deborah’s social work career with the Roosevelt Public Schools.
In addition to her work with women and children as a psychotherapist in private practice, school social work was an extremely fulfilling career that Deborah loved and found difficult to leave. It was a blessing to receive a social work position with the Hillsborough Public Schools in February 2005. Deborah worked with children who had emotional and social disabilities and was able to implement several programs that engaged students, their families and the community. One of the highlights was a girls’ book club and obtaining a grant to take the girls to a bookstore and to lunch. The girls were able to purchase a book and many remarked “they didn’t know there were stores like this!” Deborah retired in December 2016.
Deborah has been blessed to find a church home at Bible-Based Fellowship Church. Upon moving to Tampa, she has developed many rewarding friendships and is able to do several things that she thought she’d miss most about New York (attend plays and concerts and enjoy good restaurants). Most of all it’s been a blessing to walk 3-5 miles a day with Tampa’s beautiful weather.