Highlights:
If you’ve ever gone to any schools in the Gilbert district, you have most likely had Deb Anderson as a teacher. She has been part of the district for over 50 years, but she didn’t always plan on teaching. When she was younger, she wanted to be a vet. That dream changed over time, partially through her love of sports and the inspiration she received from her own high school PE teacher. Today, she continues to contribute to Gilbert through her many years of being a PE teacher and coach, and now to her many other roles, such as being a substitute teacher or bus driver.
Deb Anderson attended South Hamilton Elementary, Middle, and High School, graduating in 1969. After earning her college degree in 1973, she began teaching PE at Gilbert. 2026 will mark her fifty‑third year working in the district, making her the longest‑serving staff member at Gilbert today.
When asked her favorite thing about teaching, she said, “I think it’s watching kids grow up and being successful… and feeling like you contributed to part of that. And I also like being in one school my whole career, because I am now, as a substitute teacher, teaching grandchildren of some of my former students.”
Outside of teaching, Deb Anderson started Gilbert’s cross-country team. As cross country is now a major sport in Gilbert, her legacy has carried on. She vocalizes that seeing the program develop into what it is today has been extremely rewarding.
Over the years, Deb Anderson has brought so much to Gilbert Schools. From teaching to coaching to substituting to taking pictures for sports, her impact expands beyond the classroom. Deb Anderson has impacted generations of students, highlighting the lasting legacy good teachers can leave behind.
