It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of our friend and colleague, Deborah Rios, who passed away July 12, 2014. Debbie began working at the MEC in June of 2007, as part of a National Science Foundation grant geared toward engaging largely underserved populations of people with disabilities in outdoor experiential STEM activities centered on the New Jersey Meadowlands marsh ecosystem.
Debbie was a integral part of a team of educators who developed, implemented, and field tested programs for people with disabilities that were so successful that they became a National Model of Program Accessibility. Being such an environmentally conscientious person as well as a passionate educator, Debbie’s time at the MEC did not end when grant funding expired in September of 2010. Instead, Debbie took on the new role of School District Program Coordinator acting as the liaison between the MEC and school districts in Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, and Essex Counties. Through Debbie’s hard work and dedication, children in grades k-12 were able to attend field trips at the MEC where they were able to learn about the unique ecosystem that is now accessible to learners of all ages.
As the next school year approaches and we at the MEC begin to work with our local school districts to plan for field trips, Debbie is deeply missed. All of her time and dedication will never be forgotten.
