10/07/2026
Congratulations to longtime Ignited curriculum coach Debra Dimas on her retirement!
After 37 years of teaching physics at East Side Union High School District, Deb is stepping into a well-earned retirement. Throughout her distinguished career, she has taught all levels of physics, led the development of her district's NGSS-aligned Physics in the Universe curriculum, and earned the Silicon Valley Engineering Council's Keeper of the Flame Award for excellence in STEM education.
Alongside her work in the classroom, Deb has also been a valued member of the Ignited community for more than 30 years. She first joined Ignited in 1994 and was placed in a Summer Fellowship with IBM, spending her summer break exploring the applications of physics and chemistry in hard drive development. Over the next three decades she remained deeply involved with our programs, and has been a beloved curriculum coach for the past 25 years, supporting her fellow teachers in translating their industry experiences into meaningful learning for students.
Deb has been a steady, trusted presence through decades of Ignited's growth and change. Her guidance, encouragement, and expertise have helped shape countless classrooms and educators. Congratulations on your retirement, Deb, and thank you for an extraordinary legacy of service to students, teachers, and STEM education!
