by Mary Jo David

Nowadays, if you visit the Jr./Sr. High School and want to see the library or speak to a counselor, you’ll find them in a very appropriately named “Student Success Center.” As media center specialist and mentor for Michigan Virtual High School, Debrielle “Debby” Lopez played a key role in naming the center.

“The name is more than just a plaque on the wall,” Lopez explained. “We house the library but also counseling, tutoring, SpringMath, and more, so the name ‘Student Success Center’ just seemed very fitting for the whole culture of what happens here.”

Lopez began working at the high school just after the COVID pandemic hit. She began as a long-term building sub and reported to wherever she was needed. Her time as a long-term English 9 sub left the biggest impact on her from that subbing experience.

“Before she left, Jessica Martell shared with me that, at different times, she liked to write supportive notes to hand off to students.” That prompted Lopez to do the same thing.

Lopez shares, “I remember back then, one student in particular who was having a bad day. He was not one to show his feelings, but I noticed and passed him a nice note that day. I’m amazed because, it turns out, the student, who is now a senior, still has the note and tells me he looks at it about once a week!”

Not surprising, this media center specialist is an avid fan of libraries or anywhere where kids can find books.

Her advice to parents is, “Encourage reading from early ages; it will be instrumental in your children’s long-term success. Take your kids to places where reading is celebrated—the library, a bookstore, wherever.”

Lopez coined a new term during this interview: genre-fied! As an indication of her dedication to expanding the reading habits of SHS students, this summer, Lopez, with the help of her husband (and Google), “genre-fied” all the books in the Student Success Center. Think of it as the 2025 answer to the Dewey Decimal System (which is still used in the library). Now, when a student is looking for a particular type of book they can use the genre to help find it.

As a youngster, Lopez moved from Monroe, Michigan, to Stockbridge when she was in middle school. She graduated from Stockbridge High School, after which she took classes at Lansing Community College and online at Arizona State University. In 2024, she married her husband, Ricky, and together they are raising Lopez’s son Calvin, who is almost 6 years old and also attends Stockbridge schools.

During high school, she was the varsity soccer captain, bowling captain, and vice president of her senior class.

“I mainly loved art,” Lopez recalled. “I had Mr. Langone, who is still teaching at the high school, and he really inspired me to pursue art. I also loved English courses, and I’m good with technology.”

After years as a busy barista and then as a substitute teacher and someone with a flower business on the side, Lopez has managed to find the perfect place to blend all of her talents and skills. Last year, she painted the Student Success Center, and students arriving at school this past fall probably noticed the new decorations Lopez added to the center. Even before “genre-fication,” since Lopez took over as media center specialist, book checkouts have doubled and are on pace to continue increasing this school year.

According to JayLee Chapman, who is a senior at the high school. Lopez is the definition of selfless.

“[Ms. Lopez] brings service and love to the Student Success Center. She consistently finds new ways to improve students’ days. She makes sure that every student feels wanted and accepted for who they are.  … She pays for supplies and other items for students out of her own pocket. She has a snack basket for students who aren’t able to get food outside of school.”

Through the Michigan Virtual High School, which is offered in the Student Success Center, students can take courses like Career Readiness, American Sign Language, Learning in a Digital World, or even Japanese. The program is intended to complement the courses offered at the high school. Student support advisor, Sara Oesterle, oversees grading of these students, and Lopez assists in holding MVHS students accountable.

The way Lopez describes it, the Student Success Center team—which includes counselors Oesterle and Kelly Carling, Mike DeMint’s SpringMath, and Lopez—is relationship-driven and truly focused on student success.

Day-to-day, the center’s team tackles what seems like a revolving door of student issues and achievements. But according to  Lopez, “When students feel seen and encouraged, they are more likely to be successful. That’s the kind of culture we’ve built into the Student Success Center, and it is making a difference.”

All photos provided by Debby Lopez.