Ms. Merilee Debus Selected as Assistant Principal for Andersen Elementary School

DoDEA Pacific West District Superintendent Dr. Jacob Sherwood is pleased to announce the selection of Ms. Merilee Debus as the assistant principal at Andersen Elementary School, effective Oct. 21, 2024.

Ms. Debus is a dedicated educator with more than 20 years of experience. Originally from the Savannah, Ga. area, she began her teaching career in the Liberty County School System in Hinesville, Ga., where she spent a decade nurturing and educating elementary and middle school students. Since joining the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), she has made significant contributions supporting teachers and administrators in the Southeast and Pacific East Districts as an Instructional Systems Specialist.  At DoDEA Headquarters, Ms. Debus served as the Secondary English Language Arts Instructional Systems Specialist, playing a key role in the Standards and Curriculum Branch. She oversaw the implementation of the College and Career Standards for Literacy in middle and high schools. Her teaching journey has taken her to several DoDEA schools worldwide, including Kaiserslautern Middle School in Germany, Bitz Intermediate School at Camp Lejeune, and Andersen Middle School in Guam. Her passion for DoDEA’s mission to serve military children and their families is evident in her strong foundation in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.  

Ms. Debus holds a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education and a Master of Education in Adult Learning from Armstrong Atlantic State University. 

Ms. Debus considers her family a true “DoDEA family.” Her husband, Jason, is also a DoDEA educator, and they are immensely proud of their two oldest children, Susanna and Aiden, who are graduates of DoDEA schools and now successfully attending college in North Carolina and Guam. They also have two children and future DoDEA graduates still at home, Connor and Abby.

Andersen Elementary School looks forward to welcoming Ms. Debus to the Dolphin family in her new role on October 21, 2024.