From a mentor
The passing of Debra Hundert McLauchlan has left a giant space in the international educational world of drama and theatre. She was a force to be reckoned with, an advocate for arts education in the broadest sense—schools, universities, theatre groups, government—and always with the students front and center. She was a tireless worker for drama and theatre in and out of schools; a committed and dedicated teacher with both her secondary and university students; a respected, indeed cherished, colleague; and a special friend. As well, Debra played a significant role in different community-based partnerships, including the Carousel Players, the St. Catharines Museum, Shaw Festival, Theatre Ontario, and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education.
1. Debra McLauchlan. Photo courtesy of Brock University.
Debra had taught drama in high school for almost fifteen years, directing and guiding more than sixty student productions, including several student-generated works. It was during her graduate courses at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in Toronto, beginning in 1993, that I began to notice her strengths in my courses in the arts in education and drama, and from those first days, I recognized her love of her subject and her belief in her students. She was extremely successful in her studies, and I then became her graduate advisor for her Ph.D. thesis. We met frequently during the next few years, Debra journeying by bus from St. Catharines to Toronto. Her thesis was based on her years of working with her drama students, supported by her studies and her readings. It was a pleasure working with her, developing her personal narrative, discussing new research and exploring different authors in her field, as well as in education in general. I learned so much from these conversations and readings, and her subsequent thesis, Paths of Learning through “The Forest of Dreams”: Senior Secondary Students and Theatre for Young Audiences, was completed in 1996. She wrote about her teaching life, and she honored our drama/theatre world and her students.
Debra then began her university career at Brock in 1999, as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fine Arts, before moving to the Faculty of Education in 2000, serving as Associate Dean in the Faculty of Education in 2008 and then, in 2010, she was appointed a full Professor in Teacher Education. Her compassion for students and her commitment to drama/theatre continued throughout her life—teaching, researching, writing, and volunteering. Her bus trips to Toronto continued for the next twenty years, and we met each time, including this past fall. I shall forever miss those lunches, chatting about our drama worlds, and our grandchildren, with my friend Debra.
From a global academic partner
The American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) lost a powerful voice for drama/theatre teaching and learning when we lost Debra. At AATE and at a host of international conferences, Debra was a quiet but strong voice advocating for drama on many levels. Her research was consistently rigorous and meticulous, while still telling a compelling story about the impact of drama education. Debra and I worked together on various projects over the years: we presented our work together on numerous panels and we led teacher education workshops at International Drama/Theatre Education Association World Congresses. We edited the collection of papers from the 2004 IDEA World Congress held in Ottawa. It was our task to enable all of the writers to tell their stories in the best possible way, nurturing voices across language and cultural boundaries. She was a frequent reviewer for YTJ and juror for the research awards. In all of these activities, Debra’s editorial work was always rigorous, yet kind. Debra McLauchlan was many things: wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, administrator, mentor, advocate, researcher, editor. But most of all, she was my friend, and I will miss her very much.
From a university colleague
Debra was my mentor, my colleague, and my friend.
As a member of my hiring committee at Brock University. Debra immediately made me feel welcomed with her wide smile and her crazy, fun-loving stories (she was such a good story teller). She mentored me throughout the years and helped me grow as a drama teacher. She and I traveled together to various theatre conferences, where she introduced me to the international theatre community. I was also on graduate and department committees with her. She was always so organized, reliable, and committed to her students. I admired her work ethic and her dedication.
But what I admired most about Debra was what many people didn’t see—her generosity and the behind-the-scenes support that she provided to numerous people and organizations. For example, she supported a local theatre company—Carousel Players—and myself, purchasing tickets for my family and I to an auction event. This generous donation to the company helped them financially and helped me network in a new city. Debra was generous with her time as well. She supported families in need at Christmas, she hosted arts team meetings at her home, she helped her students apply for (and fund their) conferences, and she supported me and mine with conversations and excellent advice.
The price paid for having someone like Debra touch your life is the emptiness and sadness felt in her absence. Though it’s costing me tears… I would do it all again.
From a former university student
I had the honor of Deb’s mentorship throughout my Bachelor of Education and Masters of Education degrees; she then became a friend as I began my teaching career. I fondly remember how she shared anecdotal advice. Thinking back, I distinctly recall stories about her own mentors and the immense impact they had on her personal and professional growth. On one occasion, I remember her describing how one mentor, in particular, always made her feel that she was his favorite; that she was the smartest academic, the best organized, and the most successful. She laughed and said that he must have said those things to each of his students, making them feel as special as she did. Deb did the same. She embodied the best of each of the arts innovators who guided her. She always went out of her way for her students, acknowledging our individual passions, interests, and needs. She intuitively recognized and revealed our potential with honesty and kindness. As a teacher, Deb is the “gold standard” to which I hold myself accountable. As a friend, her generosity, faith, and thoughtfulness will be sorely missed.
From a mentee
“Help—I need somebody, Help! Not just anybody, Help! You know I need someone, Help!” These are the words of Deb’s favorite band, The Beatles. The lyrics closely mirror my conversations with Deb whilst navigating the terrain that is the first year of professional teaching. Deb was my mentor, my guru, and my role model. She was not only a beacon of guidance and light for myself, but also a fierce support system for many of her students; once you met Deb, you had a teacher and guide for life. Deb supported me as a new teacher, and if I ever e-mailed her for an opinion, or left a message on her voicemail, she always responded right away with kind words and authentic feedback. Deb was one of the most organized and genuine people you could know. Last summer, when I finished my first year of teaching, Deb wanted to celebrate by taking me out to dinner. She shared that her mentors would take her out to celebrate and that she was passing this tradition down to me. Upon her passing, my students and I made a wall of hope and love in our drama room, and filled the wall with paper cranes, things that we are grateful for, and other symbols of peace. They know her name and know that I will support them all in the same way that Deb supported each and every one of her students. Jai Guru Deva, Deb; thank you for everything you’ve done for me and for all of your students. You’ve made us better teachers and better people just by knowing you.