With nearly five decades of experience, Deborah T. Yarrow, PhD, has established herself as a distinguished expert in English and academia. Since 2022, she has served as the gifted and talented coordinator at Lotus School for Excellence, a culturally diverse charter school with an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students. The majority of learners are non-native English speakers, with about 60 percent of the student population of Hispanic heritage and the rest representing a broad range of cultural backgrounds from around the world. In this role, she oversees programs designed to help students reach their highest academic potential. She has introduced innovative initiatives, including a school-wide math bee, and organizes student participation in the Denver Area Metro Science Fair, fostering academic excellence and engagement.
Dr. Yarrow’s career includes roles as an English instructor at Clemson University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and Virginia Tech. She is an active member of the Colorado Association for Gifted & Talented and the National Council of Teachers of English, reflecting her dedication to advancing education. She laid a strong academic foundation, earning a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She continued her studies with a master’s degree in English writing from Hollins University in 1981 and a PhD in forest resources from Clemson University in 1999. She also holds certifications as a gifted education teacher and an English instructor.
Beyond education, Dr. Yarrow has been involved in civic engagement, notably serving as a guardian ad litem in South Carolina from 2011 to 2018. Her most significant accomplishment is co-authoring “Managing Wildlife: On Private Lands in Alabama and the Southeast,” a book that embodies her passion for communication and commitment to natural resource stewardship. She considers this work her most important legacy, as it educates and empowers landowners on responsible property management to benefit both ecosystems and wildlife.
Dr. Yarrow attributes her success to the unwavering support of her family and her dedication to lifelong learning, which has kept her informed about societal changes and professional advancements. In her personal life, she is a devoted mother to two daughters and one son and enjoys photography, playing piano, writing, and spending time with her dogs. In the coming years, she aims to empower immigrant students at Lotus School for Excellence by helping them understand the American Dream and fostering opportunities for personal and academic growth.