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Meet Your Neighbor: Deb Hofmeier

Posted 7/9/20

Name: Deb Hofmeier (Mrs. Hof to the kids at school)

Affiliation/Title: Principal at Sonoran Science Academy-Peoria, 17667 N. 91st Ave. (sonoranschools.org, school video here)

What I’m …

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Meet Your Neighbor: Deb Hofmeier

Posted

Name: Deb Hofmeier (Mrs. Hof to the kids at school)

Affiliation/Title: Principal at Sonoran Science Academy-Peoria, 17667 N. 91st Ave. (sonoranschools.org, school video here)

What I’m excited about & why: I am excited about the opportunity to really dig deep and redesign our educational model to fit the needs of all of our children and families this year.  Never before has the opportunity been available to really listen to our families and students and to rethink how we educate our students for the future.

What I like most about living here: I love the opportunities for outdoor adventures year-round. There are places to visit golf and hike that are amazing and exciting to see. I enjoy the museums, zoos and learning opportunities that are close. And we spend a lot of time with the various professional sports teams to watch. I love my school and the incredible people I work with. The families and students at our school have welcomed me as one of their own from the beginning.

Changes I’d like to see in this area: Obviously this is an odd time in our world. I would change the problems we have run into with the pandemic, social justice issues and the dangers of wildfires. It would be great if Peoria could have more gathering areas for families and schools in their parks. I love the idea that families have the opportunity to choose their child’s school for them. I would love to be a neighborhood school, so children didn’t need to travel to get to school.

When & why I moved here: My husband and I relocated to the area in 2017 and we came because we had been visiting for years at my mother’s house in Buckeye. We fell in love with the winter weather.

Where I lived before & why I left: I retired from a 38-year career in teaching and administration in Wyoming and really planned on actually retiring when we moved. I quickly realized I still had years that I wanted to work; and fortunately found this principalship at Sonoran Science Academy. I have loved every minute of it.

My family: I have been married for 35 years to my best friend. We have four children and nine grandchildren with two more on the way this summer.

What I like most about what I do: Interacting with children is the most interesting job in the world. I love that I can impact lives in positive ways and that I can help families get the things they need for their kids.

If I had picked a different occupation, it might have been: I am all about the fun so I always thought I would be a good cruise ship activities director.

My interests and hobbies: I like to hike, read and golf when it isn’t 110.

The best time of my life: I enjoyed the years of raising children no matter what age the kids were. Now my best times are watching and helping them with our grandchildren. They are the best.

The worst time of my life: Like everyone else, I have lost people I loved. Happy strong memories help make them not so painful.

My best/worst habits: I am busy all the time. Sometimes too busy. 

The trait(s) I admire in others: The ability to relax and not feel like they always have to be on the go.

People who inspired me (and how): I have worked with some amazing teachers, principals, and superintendents in my career. I have taken the best of their models and made it my own.

My guiding philosophy: I cannot control what anyone else says or does; I can only control how I react to it.

My advice to today’s youth: Take the opportunity to learn something new every day, listen to your parents as they want what is best for you, and always greet people with, “Hello, I am _______” as that is the best way to get to know some really interesting stories.