Year Honored: 2018

Birth: 1946 -

Biography

Deborah D. Wicks is a lifelong Delawarean, avid supporter of the Smyrna School District and community, a graduate of Smyrna High School Class of 1964, the University of Delaware Class of 1967 and Wilmington University Master of Education Leadership and Instruction Program.

She lives in Smyrna with her husband, George. They have three adult children, George Wicks IV, Patti Bishop, and Katie Wilber, and nine grandchildren.

Wicks taught and was the special education department chairperson at Smyrna High School and the class advisor for the classes of ‘82, ‘86, ‘90, ‘94 and 96; she was appointed to the Kent Vo-Tech School Board; was DARC State Teacher of the Year and the Smyrna School District Teacher of the Year. She was the Associate Principal at Clayton Elementary School, until 1998 when she became the Superintendent of the Smyrna School District, a position she would hold for 20 years. In 2005, she was named Delaware Superintendent of the Year.

During her tenure as Superintendent, the District doubled in size. She and her construction team renovated and doubled the capacity of six schools, built two new schools and renovated two office buildings. She has been a leader in establishing and teaching the community core values of responsibility, perseverance, respect, integrity and compassion, designing the annual “I Love the Smyrna School District Day,” and passing six referenda.

She is a member of Asbury United Methodist Church, President of the SHS/JBM Alumni Association, is on the Boys/Girls Club unit board and recently joined the Delaware ARC Board of Directors.

While the Smyrna School District Superintendent, Wicks was awarded the following state awards: Educational Office Professional Administrator of the Year 2008, Delaware Boys and Girls Club Champion for Children 2011, Relay for Life Superintendent of the Year 2011, the Boys and Girls Club Women and Youth Award 2015, Community Friend by the Twentieth Century Club 2015, Smyrna Rotary Award 2015, Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association Star of Smyrna 2016, the Key to Kent County 2017, Delaware Educator Rising Administrator of the Year 2017, and 2017 Kent Distinguished Citizens Award. Wicks retired June 30, 2017.