Meet Debi Schafer-Braun, A Distinguished Educator

Debi Schafer-Braun has been an instructor of Physical Education and Athletics at De Anza since 1976 and has inspired thousands of students through her professional competence and personal charisma.

"Her energy appears to be limitless and she consistently demonstrates the ability to engage individual students even in the largest classes," said Judy Miner, vice president of Instruction. "She is highly thoughtful in organizing and managing classroom activities and is held up as a model of outstanding instruction."

Debi must be doing something right to repeatedly attract more than 60 students to Fit Camp at 6 a.m.! Charlie Elder, retired Director of Athletics and Debi's long-time mentor, sacrificed three hours of sleep to visit Fit Camp in order to participate in the surprise announcement that she was the recipient of the December 2004 Distinguished Educator Award.

"Debi is an exemplary physical educator and coach. She has always expected perfection from her athletes and her students and herself," Charlie said. "Debi is a highly motivated person. She expects nothing but the students' best effort in the classroom and on the playing field. She is truly an asset to De Anza College and her profession."

Debi's commitment to teaching is evident in the way she addresses all of her students. Every one of them is important to her, and her ability to draw out even the most shy in the group is amazing.

"Debi has made Fit Camp a family camp," said Marge Sainten, program assistant for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. "We celebrate special occasions, like future weddings, and just recently we had a party for a young man in the Marines who is leaving the class to begin boot camp, for real, and begin his military service.

"Debi has taught me that I am still physically capable of doing exercises and workouts that I thought I was too old to do. She has taught me again to appreciate my body and to consistently challenge it."

Debi has coached women's volleyball, women's basketball and men's volleyball, as well as teaching a variety of physical education courses. In 1992, she had decided to give up coaching and concentrate on instructional assignments. In a self-evaluation, Debi shared what that choice meant to her: "Coaching involves a more coordinated and gifted athlete. Now, I am teaching students with a variety of skill levels and the challenge is much greater, patience and understanding of the student's learning abilities are paramount," she said. "It is, however, very important to me to be involved with the development of young aspiring athletes who desire to enter the world of coaching, athletics and/or physical education. It is my way of giving back to a great profession and helping someone along the way."

Debi became a teacher because she enjoys the interaction with students. "I love educating those involved with the movement of the human body for lifelong activities. It's what I do best," she said.

"Over the years I've been teaching I've become much more patient and understanding. The demographics of our students have changed tremendously. There is so much diversity in their cultures," Debi said.

"Physical education has been pretty much eliminated in the lower levels of our educational system, students have absolutely no idea about what constitutes proper exercise and nutrition," Debi noted. "We all must educate constantly about the need for and value of exercise – staying active for life! So I have developed much more patience for my students. I'm also much more creative in what I do to reach so many different kinds of people."

Debi's teaching heroes can be found among her fellow Physical Education and Athletics colleagues at De Anza. "We all learn from each other and share ideas. They're a very creative group and very enjoyable to work with," she said.

Marge considers Debi to be a friend as well as a great instructor. "Not only have we been together in Fit Camp, we have served on hiring committees together," Marge said. "Debi is truly a professional and someone I look up to. She is also a whole lot of fun. She is what I consider to be the best of what De Anza is and always should be."

What Debi enjoys most about teaching is its basic roots – working and communicating with students about her "trade" and getting them hooked on lifelong activity. She said she least enjoys the administrative tasks required of a teacher, especially meetings!

"I want to inspire my students to be all that they can be. I know that slogan comes from the army, but it is so true," she said. "I want students to take advantage of all the opportunities that come their way. A door could open for them any time, and I want them to be prepared!"

When she's not teaching at De Anza, Debi and her husband teach golf in Santa Cruz. Check out their Web site at www.functionalgolf.com. "I love my job and I love De Anza College. I was so fortunate to be hired at De Anza in 1976 when I was just a kid! I didn't know any better. Now I do – just kidding!"

Debi chose an autographed copy of Mitch Albom's "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" as her award from Judy.