Debbie Verzella, Paraeducator at Meridian High School in Bellingham

Debbie Verzella, affectionately know as Mrs. V, brings a no nonsense, tell it like it is, attitude that encourages everyone to do better each and everyday.

One of my favorite success stories is about how Debbie changed a young man life forever. She has a favorite “life chat” that she reserves for those students that have truly burned every bridge they have crossed. This young man had burned out everyone around him. He had been in an out of jail several times; he was into stuff he had no business being part of, his academics at best were poor, he was headed for disaster. She took him aside on numerous occasions holding him accountable for his bad decisions. He would listen and then turn right around and do something else that had him in the hot seat. She didn’t give up. She talked about “Choices” and the consequences of his choices until she was blue in the face.

This student would actually say “I know Mrs. V, “CHOICES” whenever he saw her on campus. Plans had been put into place to remove him from the district; he had used up every last chance he had. She never gave up and once again went over the “Choices Choices Choices” lecture but this time she made her point perfectly clear. Mrs. V took a group of students including this troubled young man and drove them by a group individuals panhandling and standing on the corner holding cardboard signs that read ” will work for food”. She turned to this young man and said I don’t want this for you; do you want this kind of life? The young man laughed a nervous laugh and said “NO” I’d never do that.

She looked him in the eye and said this is the road you are choosing. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of raggedy cardboard and handed it to the student and said “I want you to put this piece of cardboard in your pocket and when life gives you a choice of the right road or wrong road to travel, I want you to put your hand in your pocket and feel the edge of that cardboard and remember that you want a better life and then make your choice. He took the piece of cardboard and put it in his pocket.

That has been about 3 years ago and just last month that young man stopped by to say hi and to tell Mrs. V that he was in a electrical training program and doing well. As they chatted, he reached into his pocket and pulled out that raggedy piece of cardboard. Debbie just stood there and started to laugh. He gave her a big hug and said “Choice” Mrs. V “Choices” thank you for being there for me and making me accountable for my choices.

This story is only one example of the hundreds of situations where Debbie Verzella has changed someone’s life for the better.

Respectfully submitted by Laney Brannen, Meridian High School

Put the Spotlight on a paraeducator or program in your district. Find out how!