About me
Dr. Debby Collins has been involved in public education since 1977 when she started her teaching career in Irvine Unified School District as a kindergarten teacher. From 1977 to 1986, she taught all grade levels, from K to 6 th. During those years, she served her fellow teachers as their local teachers’ association representative, executive board member and collective-bargaining participant. In 1986, she was hired in Monrovia Unified School District as an elementary school principal. Deborah Collins was appointed to the Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources, position in 2000; and from 2003 to 2013, Dr. Collins was promoted from Assistant Superintendent to Associate Superintendent to Deputy Superintendent. Late in the 2012/ 2013 school year, she became Superintendent of Schools until she retired in July.
While in Monrovia Unified School District, Dr. Collins served as the administrative chair at the negotiations’ tables for all employees for 13 years. She has been credited with her ability to use Interest-Based Bargaining effectively and currently facilitates negotiations with teachers, classified employees and administrators in two school districts. She also provides collective-bargaining training to school educators through School Employers Association of California, (SEAC).
Dr. Deborah Collins is currently teaching in the MAED and EdD programs at Concordia University, and serves on dissertation committees as chair and as a supporting committee member. She is also an adjunct professor at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, providing instruction in the EdD program, as well as serving students on dissertation committees.
Areas of Expertise:
• Human Resources Administration
• K-12 Instructional Leadership
• Professional Collaboration with District Office/ Site Administrators and Teachers
• School District Culture and Climate
• Building Capacity
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Scholarly Writing/APA Format
• Servant Leadership
• Mediation
• Interest-Based Bargaining
• Equity and Ethical Issues in Schools
Degrees Earned
Ed.D., K-12 Leadership in Urban Education, University of Southern California
M.A., Educational Administration, California State University, Long Beach
B.A., Christian Education, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon
