Debra Flynn has been named the 2024 William Floyd Alumni Association Outstanding Educator. Her journey in education began early, inspired by her second-grade teacher, Sister Bridget Marie. After earning a degree in elementary education from SUNY Oneonta in 1981, Flynn was hired to teach at John S. Hobart Elementary School.
Flynn started as a third-grade teacher, engaging students with lessons on cursive writing and multiplication through songs. “I quickly learned that my students became my ‘school kids,’” she said. She later transitioned to teaching fifth grade, where she adapted to new technology with help from her students. “Thank goodness I had the teacher’s manual for math, which helped me stay one step ahead of my students,” Flynn added.
During her tenure at Hobart, Flynn furthered her education with a master’s degree in special education from C.W. Post in 1984 and took on various roles within school committees and the teachers' union.
She eventually moved to a first-grade collaborative classroom before settling into her own first-grade class. There, she discovered that young students enjoyed singing and using advanced vocabulary.
After retiring in June 2018 following a 37-year career at Hobart, Flynn returned to work with former colleagues at William Floyd in 2019. She now serves as the director of the William Floyd Teacher Center.
Reflecting on her career, Flynn expressed gratitude for what she learned from her students: “My school kids taught me how to be a teacher... It is an honor to be recognized as an Outstanding Educator.” She thanked the Alumni Association for this recognition.