DEB POESE has been a member of the Mathematics Faculty of Montgomery College in Montgomery County, Maryland, since 1984. She served for five years as the chair of the Department of Mathematics and two years as interim Instructional Dean for Science, Engineering and Mathematics. She is currently the interim Director of the School of Education at Montgomery College, a role in which she coordinates all programs college-wide related to recruiting, preparing and retraining P-12 teachers.  She holds degrees in mathematics and education from Truman State University (formerly Northeast Missouri State University), as well as a masters’ degree in mathematics from the University of Maryland-College Park. She has extensive experience facilitating On Course Professional Development Workshops.

Professor Poese had been actively involved in student advising and student success activities throughout her teaching career, but has been particularly focused on these issues since her first attendance at an On Course I Workshop, presented by Dr. Skip Downing, in the summer of 2000. Since then she has attended an On Course II workshop and taken the two related graduate courses in order to gain greater professional expertise in working with students, faculty and staff on the implementation of student empowerment and success strategies.  She has also presented with Dr. Downing at several On Course I Workshops on her way to completing her training as an On Course professional development facilitator. She is a teaching assistant for Dr. Downing’s graduate course: ED 582: Strategies for Empowering Students to Become Active, Responsible Learners, and has assisted him at numerous On Course I Workshops.

Professor Poese has conducted workshops at both colleges and conferences in the context of general success strategies as well as in the specific implementation of the On Course principles in mathematics classrooms or mathematics/success course learning communities.

Professor Poese was recognized by the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics as Outstanding College Professor for 1998.  She has been nominated by her students several times to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. She has been honored with a Montgomery College Outstanding Faculty Service Award, and is a recipient of a Teaching Excellence Award from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD). 

A Few Testimonials for Deb Poese

Deb does a wonderful dance of sharing knowledge, channeling “audience” ideas, while demonstrating a light-hearted compassionate approach & steady pursuit of completion within the scheduled time. Remarkable. –-Jan Leversee, Chair, Education/Early Childhood Education, Community College of Aurora, CO

Deb Poese did a fantastic job presenting. I have been in the business world for 18 years as a project manager and corporate trainer. I have seen great and terrible presenters. Deb is great! --Lisa Fallon, Faculty, Business, Southwestern Illinois College, IL

I very much appreciated the accepting/welcoming approach of the facilitator, Deb Poese. I thoroughly enjoyed the session!  –-Jeff Walsh, Faculty, Lock Haven University, PA

Deb, you are an excellent learner-centered educator! Thank you so much!  --Marilyn K. Lynch, Vice President, Career and Program Resources, Brookhaven College, TX

I was very pleased and impressed with our presenter, Deb Poese. She has a nice, easy-to-accept presentation style. She both represented and demonstrated the concepts very effectively.  –-Gene Gianladis, Counselor, University of Missouri-Rolla, MO

I admire Deb’s energy, control, and organization when presenting. The material was energizing and thought provoking. Thanks for a great job! –-Melanie Martel, Faculty, General Studies, New Hampshire Technical Institute, NH

Deb’s workshop is great. Very informative. I want to implement these strategies in my classes. –-Richard Alexander, Faculty, Allied Health, Miami-Jacobs Career College, OH

I enjoyed this workshop more than any in the last several years.  –-Donna Cooper Graves, Faculty, University of Tennessee-Martin, TN

Deb Poese is an outstanding communicator. –-Don Black, Assistant Director, Upward Bound Math & Science, St. Louis University, MO

Deb is a fabulous facilitator. –-Nancy Harbour, Program Coordinator and Faculty, School of Technology Studies, Eastern Michigan University, MI

You are very knowledgeable of the content, very interesting, and fun. You have given me some very great ideas to take my teaching to another level! For that I thank you. --Remy Williams, Faculty, Freshman Orientation, Louisiana Technical College, LA

You did a super job with a large group of educators. What a challenge!  I love that you had us “practice what you preach.”  --Cathy Stende, Program Chair, Nursing, Des Moines Area Community College, IA

Great presenter! Excellent technique of interactions with peers, movement, and engagement. --Keith Powell, York Technical College, SC

Deb is very knowledgeable and able to tie suggestions from On Course to specific situations mentioned by participants. The pace, balance of types of activities and personality of the presenter were big plusses. This workshop is like Mary Poppins—practically perfect in every way. --Alexis Clayton, Director, Teacher Preparation Program, El Centro College, TX

Your ability to facilitate is excellent. You kept my attention all day. You are effective and I hope you continue in this field!  --Tauna L. Perenovich, Community College of Allegheny County, PA

The facilitator, Deb Poese, was wonderful. Her strength in maintaining the 3-day On Course workshop was phenomenal. What she delivered to the people at Baruch College was invaluable. --Lilly Pervizaj, Advisement and Orientation, Baruch College, NY

Many thanks to Deb Poese for an excellent presentation! --Bryan Zervos, Director, Development and Advancement, Columbia Union College, MD

Thank you, Deb, for your energy, your enthusiasm, and your obvious dedication to what you do. I learned so much in this workshop. --Betty East, Tutor Coordinator, The Victoria College, TX

I appreciate the organized and well planned presentation. Deb was extremely effective. She is pleasant, knowledgeable, and excited about the topic. The seamless transitions from one activity to another were well paced and really helped time go by quickly. I was never bored. --Felicia Graves, Faculty, Mathematics, Cuyahoga Community College, OH

Deb is a great model of a learner-centered educator. --Hazel Strahorn, Faculty, Gateway to College, Montgomery College, MD

Thank you for an outstanding workshop. You are a true professional. --Anthony Macaluso, Faculty, Chemistry, El Centro College, TX

Deb is a great facilitator. She really knows her stuff.  --Kevin Jarnagin, Advisor, University of Oklahoma, OK

Deb  did an outstanding job of creating a positive, collaborative experience. --Florence Baker, Faculty, History, El Camino College, CA

Deb was great. She was able to include everyone in all activities and reign us in when needed. Awesome job!  --Pat Krauss, Retention Specialist, Corning Community College, NY

I felt comfortable with all of the participants principally due to the facilitator’s approach.  --Harvey Lyons, Faculty, Industrial Technology, Eastern Michigan University, MI