Deborah Ann Sunshine

Long Time Local Special Ed Teacher: Deborah Sunshine For more than 3 decades, Debby Sunshine dedicated her life to special needs students in Miami Dade who needed a little “Extra Sunshine” to keep up with their education. She worked with the students that other teachers couldn't reach, and enjoyed their special 1 on 1 relationships in Miami Dade Classrooms. She started her career on 1973 after graduating from the University of Miami at her first assignment , Dade Demonstration School. From there she moved around bring her special brand of teaching to the kids many other simply gave up on. Her assignments took to her Douglas Elementary in the Grove, Caribbean Elementary in South Dade shortly before it was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew, Pinecrest Elementary School and most recently Palmetto Elementary School. She finally retired in 2014. Mrs. Sunshine, as she was known in her classrooms, was an avid Music Fan who enjoyed going to the Woodstock Music and Art Festival in 1969. Later that Fall she enrolled at the University of Miami majoring in Education. She also an avid Hurricane Football Fan who saw here favorite college team rise to national rankings. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she also rooted for her favorite NY Sports Teams and tried not to miss any Jets-Dolphin’s Games. Aside from focusing on Special Needs Students, she also mentored dozens of education-interns from colleges all over the country who she knew carried on her work in schools nationwide. “Mrs. Sunshine” is survived by her 2 daughters Melissa and Stephanie and her husband of 44 years Al Sunshine. She passed away at Baptist Hospital Tuesday night following a brief illness. A Casual Memorial is scheduled Thursday Evening at Woodlawn Cemetery, 11655 SW 117 Avenue from 4-7PM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her name to the American Cancer Society and the Humane Society of Greater Miami.