Dr. Garton graduated from SAGU with a degree in Secondary Education, holds a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from UT Tyler, and earned a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Dallas Baptist University.
With over twenty years of experience in both traditional public and charter schools in Waco and Waxahachie, Deb has served as a classroom teacher, state testing coordinator, elementary and middle school campus principal, and coordinator of special populations. She has led district-wide programs such as ESL, academic interventions, and 504, and holds a Superintendent certification, Principal certification, Special Education certification, and Teaching Certification in grades 1-12 and English as a Second Language. Deb’s passion is building people and empowering them to realize their purpose, potential, and possibilities.
Her favorite part of being a principal is watching her teachers, staff, and students grow and make a difference in their community. She has a heart for children in poverty and children with disabilities. She has a particular interest in ADHD, executive functioning, and social-emotional health.
Deb has been married for 26 years and has two teenage boys, both who attend Life School, and a puppy named Sephira. In her free time, Deb enjoys reading, cooking, shopping, and spending time with her family and friends.