Testimonials
I have known Debra Newby in a variety of circumstances in recent years. She has always displayed a high ability to organize, encourage and teach with patience all age groups and abilities. I’ve been greatly impressed by Debra’s administrative qualities. She has great ideas and knows how to implement them to everybody’s mutual satisfaction. She is excellent at communicating her expectations and being encouraging in the process.
Debra’s ability to remain positive and patient throughout the repetition of the teaching process is highly admirable. I’ve seen her communicate complicated instructions to hundreds of people over a three-hour period in an evening and never express irritation, frustration or loss of temper. Indeed, from my perspective, she thoroughly enjoys teaching and communicating knowledge so that all may understand and benefit.
She is dedicated, organized, encouraging and administrative – a perfect combination.
Katie Andrade
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I have known Debra for ten years. She has instructed students in dance at the Academy in the Pines in Cambria, an orchestral camp associated with the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony. The students range in age from grade school through high school. Debra has led us in line, square, circle and reel dances. It is a wonderful experience for the young Youth Symphony musicians.
Debra is knowledgeable and comes prepared. She has an excellent feel for what the students need to make them successful. This is complicated because our students do not know each other well, are different ages and are boys and girls. By the end of the sessions, everyone is dancing and enjoying themselves immensely. It is the highlight of the camp! Debra expects the students to be polite and mindful of others. Her leadership is outstanding.
In my position as Music Director of the Academy String Orchestra of the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony, I look forward to many more years of association with Debra Newby.
Carol Kersten
Music Director, Academy String Orchestra, San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony
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I have known Debra Newby for almost eight years. I first had the pleasure of meeting her when she attended our writer’s critique group which included a broad age range of junior high through adult. Her input and critical comments were invaluable to the authors. She has an excellent way of encouraging a writer while at the same time getting to the heart of mechanics and content that may need to be addressed. I was always impressed with her insight and commentary, and I appreciated her as a fellow writer and critic.
I also had the pleasure of getting to know Debra through Civil War reenacting and ball dancing. In over five years of experience dancing under the direction of many ball callers, Debra was the most gifted at clearly explaining the dance moves, even being able to direct a room full of two hundred and fifty dancers. She prides herself in researching new dances, including the historical aspects behind them, always keeping the balls fresh and lively.
I recently approached Debra about editing my daughter’s essays and meeting with her to discuss them. She was very positive and encouraging and was able to help my daughter improve her writing and feel confident in her essays. My daughter said she would love to have Mrs. Newby as a teacher, and I feel any student would flourish under her teaching.
I would have no reservations recommending Debra Newby to teach any subject to an age group as she is so professional and thorough in her research, ability and enthusiasm for her material as well as genuine in her care for her student’s progress.
Melanie Mattina
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Dear Mrs. Newby,
Coming into this class, I thought government and economics was boring. I never thought about how it could affect me, and honestly I didn’t really want to know. However, working with you, I have learned so much. I have never been in a class where I am excited to do the homework and learn about the topics.
Because of my learning style, I have struggled in many of my classes. You taught me in a way that I could understand and a way that made me think. I looked forward to every class because I was able to sit down with you and discuss things like congress, elections and inflation as if I were talking to a friend. I felt confident on different topics that I was very unsure of before.
Learning with you wasn’t work. It was interesting, fun and challenging. You were always encouraging and always answered my questions, making sure that I completely understood.
I have found that because of your class, I am not only confident in government and economics, but in taking on new challenges that I would’ve avoided in the past. If I could, I would take your class again in a heartbeat. Out of all the teachers I have ever had, you were, by far, the best.
Thank you for everything!
Megan (Seventeen-year-old Private Tutoring Student)
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I met Debra Newby almost 25 years ago as we were looking for educational options for our own children. After successfully holding preschool in our homes, we went on to homeschool our children together. Debra would plan wonderful hands-on projects and create ways to teach history and math that were far beyond my ability. Even though we no longer live close to each other, I have continued to rely on her wisdom and advice in a huge variety of subjects – teaching science, math, history, SAT prep, writing, special needs, business, photography, spiritual life – you name it, we have discussed it. She is an experienced coach who has been a constant encouragement and support to me as I continue to teach my own children and grow my business.
Debra is a natural teacher who can make a significant difference for your student. I am confident that investing in your child with Debbie’s tutoring services will reap huge rewards.
Beth Lester
Small Business Owner
Home Staging Designs of California
Debra’s ability to remain positive and patient throughout the repetition of the teaching process is highly admirable. I’ve seen her communicate complicated instructions to hundreds of people over a three-hour period in an evening and never express irritation, frustration or loss of temper. Indeed, from my perspective, she thoroughly enjoys teaching and communicating knowledge so that all may understand and benefit.
She is dedicated, organized, encouraging and administrative – a perfect combination.
Katie Andrade
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have known Debra for ten years. She has instructed students in dance at the Academy in the Pines in Cambria, an orchestral camp associated with the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony. The students range in age from grade school through high school. Debra has led us in line, square, circle and reel dances. It is a wonderful experience for the young Youth Symphony musicians.
Debra is knowledgeable and comes prepared. She has an excellent feel for what the students need to make them successful. This is complicated because our students do not know each other well, are different ages and are boys and girls. By the end of the sessions, everyone is dancing and enjoying themselves immensely. It is the highlight of the camp! Debra expects the students to be polite and mindful of others. Her leadership is outstanding.
In my position as Music Director of the Academy String Orchestra of the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony, I look forward to many more years of association with Debra Newby.
Carol Kersten
Music Director, Academy String Orchestra, San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have known Debra Newby for almost eight years. I first had the pleasure of meeting her when she attended our writer’s critique group which included a broad age range of junior high through adult. Her input and critical comments were invaluable to the authors. She has an excellent way of encouraging a writer while at the same time getting to the heart of mechanics and content that may need to be addressed. I was always impressed with her insight and commentary, and I appreciated her as a fellow writer and critic.
I also had the pleasure of getting to know Debra through Civil War reenacting and ball dancing. In over five years of experience dancing under the direction of many ball callers, Debra was the most gifted at clearly explaining the dance moves, even being able to direct a room full of two hundred and fifty dancers. She prides herself in researching new dances, including the historical aspects behind them, always keeping the balls fresh and lively.
I recently approached Debra about editing my daughter’s essays and meeting with her to discuss them. She was very positive and encouraging and was able to help my daughter improve her writing and feel confident in her essays. My daughter said she would love to have Mrs. Newby as a teacher, and I feel any student would flourish under her teaching.
I would have no reservations recommending Debra Newby to teach any subject to an age group as she is so professional and thorough in her research, ability and enthusiasm for her material as well as genuine in her care for her student’s progress.
Melanie Mattina
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mrs. Newby,
Coming into this class, I thought government and economics was boring. I never thought about how it could affect me, and honestly I didn’t really want to know. However, working with you, I have learned so much. I have never been in a class where I am excited to do the homework and learn about the topics.
Because of my learning style, I have struggled in many of my classes. You taught me in a way that I could understand and a way that made me think. I looked forward to every class because I was able to sit down with you and discuss things like congress, elections and inflation as if I were talking to a friend. I felt confident on different topics that I was very unsure of before.
Learning with you wasn’t work. It was interesting, fun and challenging. You were always encouraging and always answered my questions, making sure that I completely understood.
I have found that because of your class, I am not only confident in government and economics, but in taking on new challenges that I would’ve avoided in the past. If I could, I would take your class again in a heartbeat. Out of all the teachers I have ever had, you were, by far, the best.
Thank you for everything!
Megan (Seventeen-year-old Private Tutoring Student)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I met Debra Newby almost 25 years ago as we were looking for educational options for our own children. After successfully holding preschool in our homes, we went on to homeschool our children together. Debra would plan wonderful hands-on projects and create ways to teach history and math that were far beyond my ability. Even though we no longer live close to each other, I have continued to rely on her wisdom and advice in a huge variety of subjects – teaching science, math, history, SAT prep, writing, special needs, business, photography, spiritual life – you name it, we have discussed it. She is an experienced coach who has been a constant encouragement and support to me as I continue to teach my own children and grow my business.
Debra is a natural teacher who can make a significant difference for your student. I am confident that investing in your child with Debbie’s tutoring services will reap huge rewards.
Beth Lester
Small Business Owner
Home Staging Designs of California
