Debra Ward

With more than 40 years of experience in early childhood education, Debra Ward, M.S., is a respected educator, mentor, and leader dedicated to advancing high-quality, child-centered learning. Her career has been shaped by a deep commitment to the Reggio Emilia philosophy, supporting children, families, and educators through innovative programs that inspire curiosity, creativity, and meaningful relationships.

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Debra recently retired after serving for 20 years as the Director of the Cerritos College Child Development Center and as an adjunct faculty member at Cerritos College. Throughout her distinguished career, she has also served as a full-time faculty member and Director of the Child Development Center at San Bernardino Valley College, where she helped prepare the next generation of early childhood educators. Earlier in her career, she spent more than two decades with the YMCA of Redlands, developing and leading infant, toddler, preschool, school-age, and family programs while serving in executive leadership roles that strengthened services for children throughout the community.

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A passionate advocate for the early childhood profession, Debra has been a California Early Childhood Mentor Director since 2014 and a Professional Growth Advisor since 1998, mentoring educators and supporting professional excellence across the state. She is an active member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA), and previously served on the San Bernardino County Community Care Licensing Advisory Committee. Debra earned her Master of Science in Child Development from the University of La Verne and continues to support schools and educators through consulting, sharing her wealth of knowledge, leadership, and passion for nurturing exceptional learning environments.