Before and after shot of Debbie Dunn.

EDUCATION:

• In 1980, Debbie earned her 2 Bachelor degrees in Elementary Education & Sociology
• In 1989, Debbie earned her Master's degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in Storytelling

TEACHER:

(Between years of 1980 to 2005)

• Elementary teacher: Pre-First for 2 years
• Elementary teacher: Chapter I Math Lab for 1 year
• Elementary teacher: Grade 4 for 2 years
• Elementary teacher: Grades 4-5 split for 1 year
• Elementary teacher: Grade 5 for 1 year
• Please note: Debbie is the K-8 Classroom Activities Examiner for Examiner.com at the national level. Click CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES for free classroom activities and lesson plans.
• Middle School teacher & Conflict Resolution Specialist: The class was called COMMUNICATION SKILLS. Debbie taught conflict resolution techniques, character education concepts, and public speaking skills to over 500 middle school students a year for 5 years until a budget-cut eliminated most of the special programs. (Grades 6, 7, and 8). During that period, Debbie created over 3000 pages of curriculum that included stories, role-plays, articles, and lesson plans focusing on Conflict Resolution and Anti-Bullying. As the School Conflict Resolution Examiner for Examiner.com at the national level, Debbie posts this material for free. Click CONFLICT RESOLUTION to visit this site.

PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER:

• Debbie has been telling stories and teaching storytelling around the USA since 1989.
• Debbie tells age-appropriate stories. She encourages lots of audience participation as she performs.
• Debbie has been a member of NSN (National Storytelling Network) and TSA (Tennessee Storytelling Association) since 1990.

PERFORMANCES:

• College groups, High Schools, Middle Schools, Elementary Schools, & Pre-Schools
• Civic Groups & Club Meetings
• Child Literacy Conferences
• Churches, Camps, Nursing Homes, & Libraries
• Parties, Banquets, Conventions, Special Occasions, & Celebrations
• Festivals & Fairs

FESTIVAL FEATURES:

Debbie has been a featured storyteller in several festivals. To name just a few:

• Allen County Public Libraries Storytelling Festival, Fort Wayne, IN
• Okefenokee Swamp Storytelling Festival, Waycross, GA
• Tar Side Tales, Rocky Mount, NCx
• TAPPS Storytelling Festivals - Knoxville, Nashville, Murfreesboro, TN
• Howl-A-Ween Festival at Opryland USA, Nashville, TN
• Beech Mountain Storytelling Festival, Beech Mountain, NC
• Halloween Storyfest, Johnson City, TN
• Louie Bluie Music & Arts Festival, Caryville, TN

STUDENT WORKSHOPS:

• Basic Storytelling
• Creating Hero Tales (Personal & Family Stories)
• STORIES OUT OF A TRUNK for Elementary Schools: The Greedy Spider
• STORIES OUT OF A TRUNK for Elementary Schools: Be Bully Free
• Conflict Resolution Residency for Middle School students

ADULT WORKSHOPS:

• Basic Storytelling Techniques
• Creating Hero Tales (Personal & Family Stories)
• Child Literacy Conferences: 20 Magnet Board Tales

TEACHER IN-SERVICES:

• Basic Storytelling Techniques
• Conflict Resolution Stories, Role-Plays, & Discussion Activities for Grades 5-8
• Child Literacy Conferences: 20 imaged stories, 20 magnet board tales, and 20 creative writing story prompts. Please note that Magnet Board tales teach sequencing, main idea, story recall, & promotes oral language development.

FREELANCE WRITER:

• School Conflict Resolution Examiner at the national level for Examiner.com
• K-8 Classroom Activities Examiner at the national level for Examiner.com
• Freelance Writer for Associated Content.com
• I have also written articles and blogs for other sites such as eHOW.com, FireHOW.com, and other companies.

SOME PEOPLE SAY:

• “Excellent presentation and rapport with audience – capturing their imagination immediately and completely – holding them in rapt attention and anticipation of what might come next. Good involvement by and with the audience to make them feel a part of the storytelling process.”
  -- Dave Mumford, Teacher, John F. Kennedy Elem., Daly City, CA


• “One felt most relaxed because of the way the stories were told. The stories came over in a clear way – we could visualize the situation, you felt part of the story from the beginning. Everyone listened with enthusiasm. The children learned so much from an Excellent performance.”
  -- Mrs. Meira Thomas, Teacher, Beaumaris Primary School, Isle of Anglesey, WALES x


• “Debbie was very enthusiastic. Her style easily and quickly captivated all of us. Her movements and voice fluctuation and accents created a mood for each story. We could have listened for hours. She has motivated me as a teacher to try my hand at being a ‘storyteller’.”
  -- Michelle Ames, Teacher, Ronald S. Beasley School, St. Louis, MO


• “Debbie pulls each member of the audience into the depths of her stories, leaving them on a magic ‘storytelling high’.”
  -- Dr. Flora Joy, Professor of Storytelling & Reading at ETSU, Johnson City, TN