CHUCK DEBELAK

Charles Debelak is co-founder and Head of Birchwood School. Mr. Debelak earned a B. S. in Education from Valparaiso University and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in gifted education, from Cleveland State University.

From 1972 to 1980 Mr. Debelak taught in public and private schools. He began his career in the Cuyahoga Heights School system where he taught elementary school and coached high school football. Taking a leave of absence for two years in 1974, he taught in at Seoul Foreign School in South Korea. Then in 1979, Mr. Debelak was hired to design and implement the gifted education program in the Willoughby-Eastlake School system.

In 1980, Mr. Debelak began to take particular interest in childhood and adolescent developmental issues particularly as they related to education, character, and moral development. He worked nationally and internationally as a counselor, workshop leader, and lecturer to adolescents, young adults, and young couples.

In 1984, together with a small group of concerned parents, Mr. Debelak and his wife, Helene, founded Birchwood School to give their own children the very best education possible. About Birchwood, Mr. Debelak writes, “We wanted to give our children the best - a head start in education and life. We dedicated ourselves to creating a premier academic environment that would also nurture personal characteristics leading to fulfillment and responsibility.”

Mr. Debelak also teaches mathematics in grades 5-8. His students have earned local, state and national recognition for their achievement.