School ‘Mom’ bids farewell to kids
Deb Dubinski has been recognized and valued by students, teachers, coaches and parents of the Wauwatosa School District for more than two decades.
“It is cool to have somebody like that who takes that sort of time out of their schedule,” junior Todd Williams, a Wauwatosa East High School football player, said.
She has been a volunteer in the district for 25 years and volunteered at East for 15 years.
She started by volunteering at Winterfest for the Parent Teacher Association and in many ways for the Athletic Booster Club.
Within the booster club, she has been an officer for the past 10 years. In June, however, she will be stepping down from her most recent position as president.
Dubinski, whose four children attended East, will see her final child, Mandy Dubinski, graduate this spring.
“Mandy is graduating and like any normal family you kind of move on. I hope to stay on to offer my services in some way though,” Dubinski said.
Dubinski’s final year has been occupied with the numerous responsibilities that rest with the Booster Club president.
The club works to supplement athletic budgets which have been cut in recent years.
Between 1996 and 2006, the Booster Club donated over $132,000 worth of equipment towards the entire sports program.
Over the course of a year, they run numerous fundraisers including a baked potato booth at both Tosa Fest and Hart Fest. The Booster Club runs concession stands at all of the girls and boys basketball and soccer games as well as some volleyball, swim, track and baseball games. They also have candy, flower and clothing sales.
Dubinski has worked every fundraiser the booster club has had at some time or another.
“I have coached basketball for 17 years and she has almost always been in the concession stand,” athletic director Linda Vitrano said.
“She is incredibly giving. I think she will still be around because she cares that much about East, the students and the sports,” Vitrano said.
“It is amazing how much she contributes to this school. We need more people like her,” Williams said.
Girls track coach Jon Parmeter said, “you are never going to find someone who could replace her.”
Parmeter noted that many kids involved in sports practice two hours each day and then have to handle a full class load and work jobs on top of that. According to Parmeter, people like Dubinski relieve one of the pressures on athletes by doing necessary fundraisers to keep sports running.
Dubinski’s efforts have not gone unrecognized. She has won the District’s Friends of Education award three times. Lincoln Elementary School nominated her for the first award; East for the next two.
For as long as Dubinski has volunteered at East, she has had a student at East as well. She will now devote much of that volunteer time to Mandy.
“We were blessed with a special [needs] child,” Dubinski said.
For Dubinski, her best memories are all of the kids.