About me
Anita F. Debarlaben is an Electrical Engineer who became an award-winning STEM educator. Anita has earned several awards, including the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Regional Award for Teaching Excellence. Her journey is complex, and she can relate to students from all walks of life. She started in the south, was raised in the inner city, and became the first college graduate and Engineer in her family. She earned a MS in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology, a BS in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Math and Computer Science Teacher Certificate from Benedictine University. She not only encourages and educates her students using the Growth Mindset, but she is also a prime example of what it can do for you. She created the term “RAP” which stands for using your Resources, keeping a positive Attitude, and Perseverance. She has a great sense of humor and often tells her students that she "Rapped" her way to success.
