Deb Yates began lecturing full time at The College of Idaho in 2003. Her scholarly interests include at-risk youth, alternative schools (including charter schools), No Child Left Behind Act, educational reform, qualitative research (especially case studies and narrative inquiry), school improvement/turnaround schools, single-gender classrooms/schools, and most recently, single-sex education.

Dr. Yates' research focuses on effective schools of choice, alternative education, and school improvement, and has included social science methodologies utilizing case studies, ethnographies, and portraiture. Dr. Yates has also served as a professional development facilitator for the Indiana State Department of Education, designing programs to help public educators become more effective with high-risk students of poverty. As a paid consultant, Dr. Yates has conducted program evaluations for school districts looking to restructure their high schools or to establish alternative schools.

The College of Idaho, 2003-present