“Bridging people to projects, resources to need”

As a veteran school volunteer and community member for 31 years, Deb’s involvement in Dublin City Schools includes roles from being a home room parent connector to writing and receiving numerous grants that have totaled over $240,000. A Co-Founder/Co-Director of the Riverside Radiant Reader Summer Reading Program through Ohio Reads, she is proud of harnessing the powerful impact parents and community members can have in collaboration with local businesses within our schools.  Her work with levy support has spanned 20 years, building in experience to become a co-leader of the 2018 Issue #5 levy.  Deb is humbled to be recognized by the Dublin community for my philanthropic service with honors including: Dublin City Schools Hall of Fame, Dublin Women’s Philanthropic Club Annual Honoree, and City of Dublin Grand Leprechaun. 

What is her Why for being a DEF Board member?  As a community member and involved parent, she has written and received several  DEF grants over the years and saw firsthand how impactful strategic funding was for innovative projects throughout Dublin City Schools. Now it is time to give back by assessing and awarding grants as well as leading the Development Committee as DEF looks to double their grant funding impact by 2029. 

Deb holds an M.Ed in Early Childhood Education with a focus on Family Literacy. She was an adjunct professor at the Oklahoma City University and co-developed FILM: the Family Intergenerational Model which was approved as one of four national family literacy models in the 90’s. She currently also serves on the board for the Dublin Food Pantry. Deb can currently be found on Instagram and FB as a local community influencer, most notably as a grandparent influencer with Goldfish Swim Schools and several local restaurants.  She connects about education on Twitter and utilizes those strong connections to build stronger relationships for all. Deb lives in Dublin with husband Brian and has raised two daughters who graduated from DCS:  Dr. Ashley Papesh Place of Legacy Family Dental and Olde Sawmill  Elementary teacher, Katie Papesh.  

Deb’s motto:  Life is a Networking Event… Network Well!