Ms. Hanzel grew up in New Jersey and received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Waynesburg College in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. In 1976 she moved to Charleston, South Carolina where she worked in the food service industry as a restaurant manager for 15 years. She returned to college after a move to Savannah, GA and earned certification to teach in the Savannah-Chatham County school system. Deb taught third grade in a science magnet school. In 1995 she graduated from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro with a Master's degree in School Counseling. For six years Ms. Hanzel worked in Folkston, Georgia at Charlton County High School as the grade 7-12 counselor. In July, 2002 she began working at Jackson County Comprehensive High School as a high school counselor. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, music and outdoor photography