Debbie Lera   Director of Online Consulting Development & LitLife West

Debbie Lera is the Director LitLife West, serving clients in California and Arizona. Debbie graduated with a Bachelor's degree from UCLA and a Masters degree in Elementary Education from Santa Clara University. She taught primary grades for many years, celebrating the sheer delight of words and stories with her young students every day.

Debbie worked for the Noyce Foundation as a literacy developer. She was recognized as an Exemplary Teacher of Writing in the Every Child a Reader and Writer Initiative when she created a demonstration site for observation lessons in the area of literacy. An experienced trainer, presenter and curriculum developer, Debbie draws on her values of joyful and active learning, reflective practice, collaboration, and research to create inspirational classroom experiences for teachers and students.

Her first professional book, Writing Above Standard, will debut in early 2009. One of our Foundational Texts for the Complete Year, this book helps educators carefully plan a comprehensive year of writing curriculum, with a keen eye on the state standards, that gently encourages students to reach their full potential and soar above standard in writing.