Debbie Phelps

Deborah S. Phelps is widely recognized as an innovative, energetic, and talented leader and master teacher with nearly five decades of teaching and administrator experience. The proud mother of three children and grandmother of seven, Ms. Phelps is the Executive Director of The Education Foundation of the Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. A highly sought after motivational speaker and author, Ms. Phelps addresses a range of topics related to education, child development, health, and life lessons.

Ms. Phelps began her career in education as a teacher at Havre de Grace Middle School in 1974 and evolved her experiences from teacher to team leader to department chair, which has served as the foundation of her successful role in administration. Over the course of her distinguished career, Ms. Phelps has developed a state-of-the-art food science lab, designed, and implemented award-winning nutrition and food science curriculum and has been actively involved in the successful launch of two middle schools.

Her dedication and commitment to excellence in the field of education has earned Ms. Phelps honors including Baltimore County Public School’s Teacher of the Year Finalist, two-time Maryland Family & Consumer Science Teacher of the Year, and Baltimore County’s “Baby Boomer of the Year” (2004), The Imagination Award: Understanding Hearts Celebrating Teachers and Other Heroes and the Healthier Moms and Babies Inspiration Award.

Ms. Phelps is the Executive Director of The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., which provides funds for innovative programs, and resources for students and teachers. The Education Foundation is a private, non-profit charitable organization under IRS section 501(c)(3), accepting contributions that are designated by philanthropic donors for specific purposes, such as scholarships for post-secondary opportunities to 2-year/4-year colleges and universities, HBCU book scholarships and trade and technical school scholarships to purchase “tools for the trade.” The Foundation also provide opportunities for schools to establish school-based innovative projects and a variety of 21st Century themed grants as well as unrestricted funds that are then granted by the Education Foundation in response to requests for support and to fulfill school system goals.

Beyond the school halls, Ms. Phelps is also affectionately known as a “swim mom” to three accomplished swimmers. She recently added “author” to her resume with the release of her first book, "A Mother for All Seasons," in which she reveals the universal themes of her life story that is rich with struggle, humor, hope, advice and passion and rallies readers to cheer for all of our children at every stage of their growth and in every endeavor.

Ms. Phelps has served on multiple business and community-advisory boards including the Board of Trustee for the Notre Dame of Maryland and the School of Education Board of Advisors for Loyola University. Ms. Phelps has also been a member of the “Kids Helping Hopkins” and Rachel’s Challenge Honorary Board of Directors, as well as a former board member for Northwest Hospital and The Children’s Guilde and a current Board of Director of Junior Achievement, the BB&T Education Advisory Board, and the Michael Phelps Foundation. She has been actively involved with a variety of charity organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, where she was recognized with the Champion of Youth award, Make-A-Wish Foundation Mid-Atlantic region, and John’s Hopkins Shock Trauma Medical Center, among others. She served as the keynote speaker “In Their Own Words” Leadership Breakfast Series for the United Way and as a mentor for the Baltimore Business Journal Mentoring Monday initiative for the past several years. Ms. Phelps was named 2014 and 2020 Top 100 Women by The Daily Record and the Smart CEO BRAVA Award. Most recently she was named 2024 Top 100 Women and inducted into the Circle of Excellence by The Daily Record.

A highly sought after public speaker, Ms. Phelps has addressed various education conferences and business seminars including, Baltimore Business Journal Enterprising Women Panelist, UPS Women’s Leadership Development Group, Women Spanning the Globe, World Trade Center Institute, St. Agnes Red Dress Sunday Kick-Off Women’s Heart Health Symposium, National At-Risk Education Conference, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Every Child Matters Education Fund, POWERED by ME!, Fund for Teachers Event, Strategic Air & Space Museum’s Brain Educators Conference, Helping Children Learn and Succeed with ADHD and Children’s Mental Health Institute among others.

A native of Allegany County (Western Maryland), Ms. Phelps received her Master’s degree in Education Management & Supervision from Loyola College (MD) and B.A. in Education from Fairmont State College, where she has served as the commencement speaker and was named Outstanding Alumnae. Ms. Phelps served as the convocation and the commencement speaker at Stevenson University. She currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland where she enjoys spending her free time with her family, traveling, and attending a variety of sporting events, especially those that are Baltimore based as well as international competition, such as the Olympics. With the expansion of her family, as a grandmother, she enjoys immensely attending the activities and sporting events of her many grandchildren.

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