Join educator Debbie Shepherd, whose 40-year career in Texas schools has shaped generations of learners, as she explores the profound impact of uncovering and uplifting local history. A graduate of Trinity University with an MEd from Texas State University, Debbie has served as a teacher, literacy coach, reading interventionist, and dyslexia specialist. She co-founded Meridian World School, an IB charter school, and Delegates Beyond Borders, an initiative supporting Model UN programs across Texas and abroad. She now prepares future educators at Southwestern University, where she continues her lifelong mission of empowering students to find their voices through writing, poetry, and meaningful engagement with literature.

In this presentation, Debbie draws on James Loewen’s reminder that “all history is local” to examine how national movements—particularly school desegregation—were lived out in our own communities. Williamson County’s journey from segregated to integrated schools occurred within living memory, guided by courageous individuals who were the first students of color to step into previously all-white classrooms. Their stories, often untold, offer powerful lessons about resilience, community values, and the ongoing work of understanding our past.