Debra Michelle Palmer

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Debra Michelle Palmer on February 7, 2025, due to complications from the flu. Debbie was born on March 6, 1973, in Denver, Colorado, to Terry Palmer and Jeanette (Green) Palmer.

A lifelong learner, Debbie graduated from Cherry Creek High School in 1991, then earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from the University of Colorado in 1995. Her passion for education led her to complete two master’s degrees—one in Education (2000) and another in History (2009)—a testament to her dedication to learning and teaching.

Debbie devoted more than two decades to teaching, beginning at Clear Creek High School (1999-2013), then Highlands Ranch High School (2013-2014), and most recently, Eaglecrest High School (2014-present). She was a passionate educator who cared about her students on a personal level, and was widely known for her love of history and government, particularly in her Advanced Placement United States History and AP U.S. Government & Politics courses.

Her influence extended far beyond classroom walls—her students often returned after graduation to thank her for impactful letters of recommendation, guidance, advocacy, and inspiration. The impact of her life stretched beyond her own students; she mentored fellow teachers, engaged in civic education at national and international levels, and spent countless hours as a volunteer firefighter with the Clear Creek Fire Authority. She continued her passion as a teacher through her influence as a mother, making her daughters feel supported and helping with numerous school projects. 

Debbie was a versatile educator, mentor, coach, and leader. She attended the National Academy (2003) at Indiana University to study the We the People program, was honored as a James Madison Fellow (2005) with coursework at Georgetown University and even traveled to Estonia (2008) to promote civic education abroad. She further expanded her global perspective through the Supreme Court Institute (2011) and a 2013 trip to South Africa with the Colorado Council for Economic Education.

Her contributions to civic education were numerous, earning her recognition from Colorado’s Daughters of the American Revolution for Excellence in Teaching History and Civics (2019). For over two decades, she served as a mentor, teacher, presenter, and leader in the field of social studies, including at the Colorado Council for the Social Studies, the National Council for the Social Studies, and through her support of the Wyoming We the People program. Her legacy as an educator will continue to inspire generations of students and teachers alike.

Beyond her professional achievements, Debbie was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and advocate. She had an adventurous spirit and a deep love for the outdoors—whether she was camping, kayaking, fly fishing, or traveling the world -- and lived her life with a smile and an endless supply of determination that she undeniably spread to those around her.

Her home was always filled with pets (some might say too many!), and she found joy in cooking elaborate meals and spending quality time with her family. She loved deeply and was deeply loved in return, creating a home filled with warmth, laughter, and happy memories.

Debbie is survived by her extraordinary and beautiful daughters, Tabor and Kaliska, her husband, Tyson Emborg, and her stepson, Culley. She is also survived by her mother, Jeanette (Green) Palmer; father, Terry Palmer; and stepmother, Sandy Palmer. She leaves behind her three brothers, Michael Palmer, Christopher Palmer, and Douglas Palmer, as well as her stepsister, Michele Gilson, and stepbrother, Scott Singer, and Tabor and Kaliska’s father, Einar, and his family.

Her presence will also be deeply missed by her numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and extended family members, as well as her many beloved pets - a cherished part of her life.

Debbie’s impact reached far beyond her immediate family—she is also survived by a wide network of friends, students, and colleagues whose lives she enriched and whose love filled her life with joy and happiness. Her presence will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

In her characteristic humor and deep connection to nature, Debbie expressed her wish to be cremated and “fed to the fishes” in one of the many rivers she loved. Her daughters are planning to honor this wish in a celebration of her life this summer, where family and friends can gather to share memories and celebrate the incredible person she was.

Debbie’s love, wisdom, and adventurous spirit will live on in the many lives she touched as we continue to laugh and smile in her name.