For her extensive volunteering efforts at the Sumter P.R.E.P. Academy of Wildwood through the 2020-21 school year, Debra “Debbie” Wile was honored recently with the “Volunteer of the Year” Award for 2021.
Wile, a retired educator from Pennsylvania, taught for 31 years as a lecturer, including 25 years in the Wallingford Swarthmore School District.
She began her volunteering efforts at the Sumter P.R.E.P. Academy as a member of the Democratic Club of The Villages, and even during this pandemic crisis, she is assisting educators through the challenges of adapting the virtual education ecosystem.
Wile’s focus has been working for students with disabilities and helping them with reading and math comprehension skills. She spends several hours with students, especially grades 3-6.
The academy is the Sumter County School District provider of alternative education, with over 100 students from across the county from grades 3-12. The institution has been working alongside several volunteers in helping students in academic, behavioral or such exceptional challenges that require specialized attention.
Amidst the year filled with obstacles in reaching out to such special-needs students, Wile, of the Village of Pennecamp, continues to create positive education environments through great effort and persistence.
This is her second award, having been honored last year as well.
“Students already feel disappointed, are behind in their learning and are resistant to exerting effort toward learning,” Wile said. “Making sure they feel successful is key to their progress. This means instructing them at their current levels and abilities, not where they are supposed to be according to an arbitrary measure.”
Assistant Principal Intern Ricardo Velazquez presented her with this year’s award.
“Before the pandemic, Wile was instrumental in school events like open houses and orientation and continues exceptional public service to the education provided at the academy,” Velazquez said. “Mrs. Wile is a remarkable example of what the community altogether can do to help our students find their value.”
Alike many other volunteers from the Democratic Club of The Villages, Wile also completed her total hours of volunteering for Sumter P.R.E.P. Academy. In the meantime, her additional initiatives ranged from sponsoring events and recruiting other volunteers.
According to the club’s education liaison, Gerry Van Laven, volunteers like Wile have contributed to the academy throughout the school year, helping educators before and after the pandemic.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of volunteering work has been forced to go online, with volunteers like Wile having to use multiple platforms to cater to the requirements of students.
– Attributed Source, The Villages Daily Sun