"From Troubled Teen to Teacher of the Year" read a recent headline when Debra Peppers received the honor of being a recipient of the 1999 National Teachers’ Hall of Fame. This distinguished honor was bestowed upon only five nationally recognized outstanding teachers.

As a troubled teen herself, Debra was a 250 lb. high school drop-out. She experimented with alcohol and drugs, ran away from home and could have "fallen through the cracks". But with the unconditional love of her parents, the encouragement of a special teacher, and her eventual faith, her life was turned around.

Having lost over 100 pounds and working on her doctorate to become "Dr. Peppers", Debra challenges audiences to look at all the "roads" in their lives and inspires them to transform "Stumbling Blocks into Stepping Stones" as she has done. Debra incorporates her own personal story of "shame to fame" and how she became an outstanding educator of 25 years, author, mentor, university instructor and current host of a daily three-hour radio program entitled "Talk From the Heart, with Debra Peppers".

Debra’s unique blend of humor, powerful inspiration and unequaled energy are passed on to her audiences. They leave not only motivated and uplifted, but also with practical tools to turn their own lives down a more positive and more productive path.