Debbie Travers

Member

Originally from San Francisco, Deborah Travers began her teaching career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Northern Thailand. After completion of her service she returned to San Francisco to work with the Institute of International Education as a Fulbright Scholarship and Work/Study Abroad Advisor, as well as with the US Peace Corps as a Recruitment Specialist. Wanderlust led Debbie and her husband, Bill Travers, to move to Kathmandu, Nepal where they both worked as English teachers with students from Nepal, Tibet, India and Burma, and led treks and mountaineering trips throughout the Himalaya for close to four years. Upon her return to the US, Debbie received a Masters in Education, together with a Social Science Teaching Credential from Stanford University. With a profound goal 'to bring the world home', she began teaching World History first for Chico Unified School District and then for Inspire School of Arts and Sciences, in 1996. Debbie is a Founding Member of Inspire, and was invited to be a full member of the Inspire Board in her role as a teacher at the school. She served as a member the Board for six years, and as a Teacher Representative for four more years. At Inspire, she was a co-leader for the first ten years of Inspire’s extraordinary, in-house professional development program, as well as coordinator for its groundbreaking Advisory program. In addition to teaching World History, Government and AP Government for the Social Sciences Department, she co-created Inspire’s newest elective, Global Explorations & Ethnic Studies in 2020. After 25 years teaching in Chico, together with the graduation of her third Advisory as well as that of her youngest son, Debbie retired in 2021. She and her husband remain avid travelers and outdoor enthusiasts, spending much time in the High Sierra and exploring the western US. They are proud parents of three sons pursuing their own studies and careers in Computer Science, International Affairs and Earth Sciences. She is excited to return to the Board, and be an active member of the Inspire Team as our school focuses on fostering our students’ growth and learning, increasing enrollment, supporting Inspire’s highly committed staff and preparing for a new permanent campus.