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Debbie Gleeson

Founder

Deborah (Debbie) Gleeson was born and raised in Lynn, MA and even as child was a natural-born nurturer, who excelled in academics and loved messy, creative activities and the great outdoors, evidenced by her five years as a Girl Scout. By the time she was applying to college, her pursuit of elementary education and teaching was not even a question. After graduating from Salem State University and spending a few years working the field, Debbie decided to take some time off from teaching to raise her family of three daughters with her husband, Denis Gleeson. When Debbie returned to teaching several years later, she discovered a newfound passion for early childhood development, but also found the state of education at that time to be disheartening. As a result, she began attending graduate school at Antioch University New England and, for her Master’s thesis project, decided to establish The Nature of Things, LLC with Denis (MBA, Boston University). Almost two decades later, that small prekindergarten class has grown into a full "farm, field, and forest" campus with a child care center, elementary,  middle, and high school, summer camp, and working farm, all with curricula designed by Debbie herself. She continues to approach teaching with tireless passion and the ultimate goal to provide the best educational experience possible to her students.

Education
  • Master of Education from Antioch University New England

  • Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a Concentration in English and a Minor in Spanish from Salem State College

Work Experience

2018: 

  • Founded 2nd Nature Academy High School

2018: 

  • The Nature of Things nominated for "Business of the Year Award" from Enterprise Bank's Celebration of Excellence

2015: 

  • The Nature of Things awarded "Women Owned Business of the Year" for both New Hampshire and New England, from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

2014-2016: 

  • Middle school teacher at 2nd Nature Academy

2013: 

  • Founded 2nd Nature Academy Middle School

2009-2015: 

  • Upper elementary teacher at 2nd Nature Academy

2000: 

  • Founded 2nd Nature Academy Elementary School

1997: 

  • Founded The Nature of Things, LLC

  • Prekindergarten teacher at Nature's Pathways (formerly The Nature of Things)

1995-1997:

  •  Prekindergarten teacher and math resource room teacher at Infant Jesus School (Nashua, NH)

1986-1987: 

  • Fourth grade teacher and middle school Spanish teacher at Saint Jean Baptiste School (Lynn, MA)

1984-1985: 

  • Sixth grade teacher and middle school Spanish teacher at Saint Jean Baptiste School (Lynn, MA)

Debbie Gleeson
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