Deborah Wacker

Deborah Wacker is an Adjunct Lecturer in Early Childhood Education with more than 40 years of professional experience in early childhood education, higher education instruction, and statewide systems leadership. She currently teaches at the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College and California State University, Stanislaus, where she instructs ECE 2A: Administration I – Programs in Early Childhood Education, ECE 2B: Administration II – Personnel and Leadership, ECE 18: Curriculum and Strategies for Children with Special Needs, and CDEV 3440: Developmental Assessment.

In addition to her teaching roles, Professor Wacker serves as a Statewide Child Development Consultant with the California Department of Education and the California Department of Social Services. In this capacity, she provides leadership and oversight of state- and federally funded child development programs across California. Her work includes leading Contract Monitoring Reviews, evaluating curricula for developmental and cultural appropriateness, reviewing and scoring grant applications, developing and implementing quality assessment tools (ITERS, ECERS, FCCERS, and SACERS), and delivering professional development, technical assistance, and leadership training to early childhood professionals statewide.

Professor Wacker holds a Master of Arts in Education, Leadership and Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. Her teaching and professional practice are grounded in equity, inclusive education, and evidence-based assessment. She is deeply committed to preparing future early childhood educators and administrators by integrating real-world systems leadership, policy knowledge, and applied instructional strategies into her college-level courses.

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