Mr. Deon M. Garner, Sr. is the principal of Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia. He was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia and attended Hampton City Schools.  In 1995, he graduated from Phoebus High School.  After graduation, Garner earned a full academic scholarship to Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.  While at Morehouse, he majored in Spanish, had a deep concentration in philosophy, was inducted into Sigma Delta Pi, the National Spanish Honor Society, was junior class president, was captain of the debate team.  Garner graduated from Morehouse College in 1999 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish.  After graduation, Garner remained in Atlanta for one year to intern with the Secretary of State of Georgia in the Department of Securities and Business Regulations under (then) Secretary of State, Kathy Cox.

In May of 2000, Garner returned home to work with Alternatives Inc., a youth development agency, in Hampton, Virginia. After working there for two years, Garner's career in education began. He assumed the responsibilities of Spanish teacher at Hampton High School in February 2002 and taught Spanish 1 and 2 for two years before moving to Warwick High School in Newport News.  There, he taught Spanish levels 1, 2, and Honors 4.  He also taught public speaking and the Honors debate class. While at Warwick, Garner directed and coached the championship speech and debate program where students competed all over the state of Virginia and won numerous awards for their hard work in speech activities.  The team competed in tournaments in South Carolina, North Carolina, and New York, as well as Virginia.

In January 2011, Garner earned his Master’s Degree from The George Washington University in Education and Human Development. In July 2012, Mr. Garner moved into administration and assumed the responsibilities of Assistant Principal at C. Alton Lindsay Middle School in Hampton, Virginia. At Lindsay Middle School, Garner oversaw the sixth grade cohort and supervised social studies, electives, and health/PE classes.

In August 2019, Mr. Garner returned to the classroom for a brief stint and taught middle school Spanish at Benjamin Syms Middle School and Phoenix Pre-K through 8 School.

In August 2020, Garner assumed the principalship of Nandua High School in Accomack County, Virginia (located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore). Showing commitment to his new assignment, Garner commuted from Newport News, Virginia to the Eastern Shore every day to carry out the responsibilities of being the principal of Nandua High School. At Nandua High School, Garner oversaw all major operational functions of the building; served as chief instructional coach for new and veteran teachers; and worked diligently to establish a relationship with alumni and the community base there. Serving as principal of Nandua High School was a springboard for future opportunities to include his current work as the principal of Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia.

On January 8, 2024, Garner assumed the responsibilities of principal of the illustrious Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia. This assignment provided the opportunity to give back to a community similar to that in which he was raised. He understands the plight of many of the students in the BTW community; has first-hand experience with poverty; and knows what it means to be resilient. Garner attributes his success and ability to thrive to his strong faith and spiritual foundation, love for family, and empathy for just about every person he meets. His desire is to be a bridge over troubled water for young people who have goals, dreams, and aspirations, but do not have a clue how to get there.

Principal Garner is also the senior pastor of Gray’s Missionary Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia. This is the church where he was raised. Additionally, Garner is still heavily involved in the speech and debate community and finds time to serve as a judge and even participate in the Professional Debate Division of mini-debate tournaments in the International Public Debate Association (IPDA)

Principal Garner is married to Mrs. Kafi Bogues Garner. They have two daughters: Elizabeth and Addison, and one son: Deon, Junior.