"It's an incredible honor for an educator," Emery said. "They talk about leaving a legacy for what you do, and I think having a school named in your honor is at the top of what that legacy should be."
Emery retired from the district in 2008 after 30 years in public education. She is a member of the college's alumni board and a past president.
Emery received her undergraduate degree in elementary education in 1976. She completed a doctorate in education, specializing in administration and supervision, in 1998. She also was a member of Texas Association of School Administrators, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and Delta Kappa Gamma.
"Debbie has contributed to and made an impact on many lives." said Janet Hoover, immediate past-president of the college's alumni board. "She has built trust in others, shown compassion, provided stability and created hope for all she has come in contact with, personally and professionally. I am proud to have worked with and learned from Debbie and can think of no greater honor to continue her legacy."
The school will be at Round Robin Drive and Plantation Myrtles Drive. It is scheduled to open in August 2010, to more than a thousand students.
"I've been in Cy-Fair for over 30 years and have worked with many namesakes who have truly been my mentors. To think about being included in that group is truly exciting," Emery said.&
For more information about the UH College of Education visit http://www.coe.uh.edu/.