Success Stories
At Terra

Denice (Quaintance) Hirt—
1990 Terra Early Childhood Graduate

Denice “Dee” (Quaintance) Hirt grew up knowing what a great place Terra is. Her father, Jim, was one of the first instructors when Terra Technical College was founded in 1968.

So it wasn’t surprising that she chose to begin her post-secondary education at Terra Community College.

Hirt graduated from Terra in 1990 with an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood. She then transferred to Bowling Green State University and graduated with a bachelor’s in education in 1993. She earned a Masters Degree in Education from BGSU in 1994 and took additional hours toward an Administrative Certificate at the University of Findlay.

She has worked for the Fremont City Schools for nine years, the last three as the principal at Stamm Elementary School. In that capacity, she oversees the building and facilitates a positive learning environment for students and staff.

Hirt looks back on her days at Terra as positive. “The immediate hands-on experience was an obvious benefit,” she said. “There were various field experiences, some positive and some negative, but all great learning opportunities.”

Hirt has some advice for students who are heading toward careers in education. “Love children and know children,” she said. “You always have to try and understand where they are, what they are thinking, and why they are acting the way they are.”

Hirt lives in Fremont with her husband, Chris, and their children, Maggie, Mason and Merrick.