Deborah Leong

Deborah J. Leong. Ph.D. is president and cofounder of Tools of the Mind and professor emerita of Psychology at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she taught cognitive and developmental psychology for 36 years. Deborah developed Tools of the Mind with Dr. Bodrova in 1995. Tools of the Mind is a professional development program and a comprehensive curriculum for Pre-K and Kindergarten children based on Vygotskian theories about learning. Tools is designed to empower teachers with the understandings and tools they need to create positive classroom cultures, facilitate intentional playful learning, and support the development of self-regulated learners who achieve to their full potential — closing the achievement gap for low income, minority and DLL students. Tools has also developed a set of technology applications based on the Vygotskian approach to learning and executive functions to support in person learning at school or learning at home. Deborah has her Ph.D. from Stanford University in Psychological Studies in Education, her M. Ed. from Harvard University, and her B.A. from Stanford University. She was a Fulbright Fellow to the University of Patagonia, Argentina. Deborah has been a participant of the Ideal Learning Roundtable since its inception.