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Arlington teacher ‘cared deeply about her students’

By Leeanna Ellis

Deb Adler will be remembered as a friend, educator and an advocate for kids.

The Arlington woman, 59, died Dec. 23 at her home after a battle with cancer. She had worked as a special education teacher at Arlington Public Schools since 1997.

“She always had a positive outlook and believed all kids could learn,” Arlington Supt. Lynn Johnson said. “All you had to do was find the right hook. She was really passionate about finding that hook for kids.”

Adler worked with all age groups, at times focusing more on high school students. Most recently, Johnson said she was more focused on the elementary students. She had also taken on more of an administration role in the special education department.

“She was very patient, very caring,” Johnson said. “She really — as all of our teachers are — genuinely had care and concern about the students and the services that we provided them.”

Jamie Smith, also an elementary special education teacher at Arlington, said Adler paid attention to detail and helped others wherever she could.

“She was very knowledgeable about the (special education) laws and was always there to help any one of us in any situation, whether it was paperwork, going to a last (minute) scheduled meeting or assisting us with goals or giving advice about a particular student,” Smith said.

Jessica Scott, another special education teacher, shared an office with Adler. She said she learned a lot from Adler, who also attended many conferences to bring back information to help the other teachers.

Scott said Adler made sure to not only get to know her students, but also their families.

“She was very sincere about it,” Scott said. “She took a lot of pride in getting to know her students.”

What Scott said she’ll remember most is how Adler said goodbye to her following the end of the school year last year.

“She left a note on my phone,” Scott said. “It said, ‘I’m outta here, I’ll see you next year.’ I still have that sticky note. It will stay there.”

Adler started her 17th school year at Arlington this fall while at the same time getting chemo treatments before taking a leave of absence.

“This school year was a difficult start, not only for Deb dealing with her illness, but for the staff who cared about her as well,” Smith said. “We all felt helpless and wanted to do something for her. She never wanted or needed anything other than she asked us to pray for her. So we did.”

Strips of paper were placed in the staff lounges at the school and at St. Paul’s Lutheran School, where Adler also taught students in special education. Any time a staff member said a prayer for Adler, they were asked to write down the date, time and any words if they wanted. The “prayer chain” started at the window in her classroom. Links were added weekly.

“There were hundreds of links,” Smith said. “And even people from the community and retired staff added their prayers.”

The chain went all the way down the hallway and back, almost making a full circle to her window, Smith said. “It was a beautiful visual to see how many people were pulling for her and praying that she would heal and return to school,” Smith said.

In addition to special education, Smith had worked with Adler to produce one-act plays at the high school level. Adler had been directing the plays for several years. Smith, who was Adler’s assistant for two years, took over the direction of the play this year in her absence.

“I guess I learned a lot from her,” Smith said. “It was fun to work with older kids outside of what we do day to day.”

During that time, Smith said she also found a friend.

“On the outside, she was very matter of fact, very independent and reliable, always told the truth, she was a great problem solver, worked hard and was always on the go,” Smith said. “Once you got to know her on the inside, she was a great listener, she cared deeply about her students and was a genuine person and friend.”

Deb Washburn, who also taught with Adler, said her family was very important to her.

“She put her children above all else,” Washburn said. “As co-workers, we were included in their life stories, from graduations, weddings, careers, travel and grandchildren.”

Washburn said Adler adored her grandchildren, often having them stay with her overnight. They also helped her start a new school year at a difficult time.

“In fact, her oldest grandchild, Luke, started kindergarten this past fall,” Washburn said. “I am sure that was her motivation, to be well enough to start the school year with us, with him. She wanted to be there for this milestone. And she was!”

Adler is survived by her husband, Tim; daughter, Sarah Sharp; and her husband, Chad, of Arlington; son, Benjamin Adler (Jamie) of Fremont; father, Theodore Dimmitt of Fremont; sister, Sher Gloeb, and her husband, Chris of Arlington; and four grandchildren, Luke, Jack, Kathryn and Mark.

A memorial service was held Saturday. Memorials have been established to the Fremont Alliance Church and the Arlington Education Foundation.

Published on-line at Dugan Funeral Home, Fremont, NE

Memorial services will be Saturday, December 28, at 1:00 P.M. at the Fremont Alliance Church. Rev. Tom Nevius officiating. There have been memorials established to the Fremont Alliance Church and the Arlington School Foundation.

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Debra Ann Adler, 59

Arlington

Died at her home after her battle with cancer Monday morning December 23. She was born August 21, 1954 at Limestone, Maine and was raised in Fremont graduating from Fremont High School in 1972. Deb graduated from Midland Lutheran College in 1976 and in 1991 received a masters degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She taught at Chadron, Nebraska, Hooper Elementary in special education and has been at the Arlington Schools in special education since 1997. Deb moved to Fremont in 1989 and then to Arlington in 2006.

She was a member of the Fremont Alliance Church and the NSEA.

Debra Dimmitt married Tim Adler May 12, 1979 in Fremont.

She is survived by her husband Tim, daughter Sarah Sharp (husband Chad) of Arlington, son Benjamin Adler (Jamie) of Fremont, father Theodore Dimmitt of Fremont, sister Sher Gloeb (husband Chris) of Arlington. Also four grandchildren Luke, Jack, Kathryn, and Mark.

Memorial services will be Saturday, December 28, at 1:00 P.M. at the Fremont Alliance Church. Rev. Tom Nevius officiating. There have been memorials established to the Fremont Alliance Church and the Arlington School Foundation. Condolences may be left at www.duganchapel.com

Dugan Funeral Chapel

402-721-2880

Printed in Fremont Tribune, December 26, 2013

DEBRA ADLER

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Debra Ann Adler, 59, of Arlington died Monday, Dec. 23, 2013, at her home after her battle with cancer. She was born Aug. 21, 2954 in Limestone, Maine and was raised in Fremont, graduating from Fremont High School in 1972. Deb graduated from Midland Lutheran College in 1976 and in 1991 received a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She taught at Chadron, Hooper Elementary in special education and had been at the Arlington Schools in special education since 1997. Deb moved to Fremont in 1989 and then to Arlington in 2006. She was a member of the Fremont Alliance Church and the NSEA. Debra Dimmitt married Tim Adler on May 12, 1979 in Fremont. She is survived by her husband Tim; daughter, Sarah Sharp (husband Chad) of Arlington; son, Benjamin Adler (Jamie) of Fremont; father, Theodore Dimmitt of Fremont; sister, Sher Gloeb, (husband Chris) of Arlington; and four grandchildren, Luke, Jack, Kathryn and Mark. The memorial service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Fremont Alliance Church with the Rev. Tom Nevius officiating. There have been memorials established to the Fremont Alliance Church and the Arlington School Foundation. Condolences may be left at www.duganchapel.com

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~