Barrett is Teacher of the Year at PBTCC

Editor’s Note: This is the first of 12 stories highlighting Butler County Teachers of the Year.

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After coming to the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center with a new program, teacher Michael Barrett received recognition for his dedication to his student’s education.

PBTCC Teacher of the Year Michael Barrett works with students during class.Photos provided prior to COVID-19 closure

Barrett came to PBTCC for the 2019-20 school year as the teacher for Project Lead the Way — Computer Science and was named as the 2020-21 Teacher of the Year for the school.

“Mr. Barrett is compassionate about every student’s success,” Computer Graphics teacher Robert Nicolini wrote in his nominating letter. “He makes it his job to bond with students and learn their ambitions and interests.

“He feels it is through this personal bonding that he continues to progress as a master teacher, and through his desire to bond and support their aspirations, he challenges himself to provide new and exciting opportunities.”

PBTCC Teacher of the Year Michael Barrett with Project Lead the Way students and PBTCC Director Charles Kinsey.Photos provided prior to COVID-19 closure

Barrett started in education 24 years ago at Jonesboro Area Technical Center while working in manufacturing at night. After a year, he became the Advanced Manufacturing Instructor at Jonesboro Public Schools.

He also worked at Three Rivers College and Tulsa Welding School before semi-retiring for a year. He returned to full-time work at PBTCC.

“My objective as the teacher for PLTW is to make a difference in the students’ education,” Barrett wrote on his resume. “I will continue my knowledge of technology and what the area industries are looking for in future employees.

“I want my students to be a success. At this point in my life, my entire goal is to make a difference in the students’ futures.”

Based on letters of support from parents and students, this is a goal Barrett is succeeding at.

Parent Becky Johnson said she was excited for her son to be selected for the program and hoped it would spark a future career for him.

“… That is exactly what it has done,” she wrote. “Mr. Barrett is a down-to-earth teacher that shares his own life experiences, his computer science knowledge and makes learning fun for my son.”

“I can personally say that he has inspired my son and challenged him to do things beyond what he ever thought possible,” parent Sara Bell wrote. “Through his support and encouragement, my child has learned many computer programming skills, how to build and maintain applications, as well as work as a team.

“I can’t say enough about his faith in the students that he teaches and what an honor it has been to watch my child grow due to his teachings.”

The Project Lead the Way leaves room for creativity and additions to the class curriculum, Nicolini explained, and Barrett stepped up to make those additions.

This year, the class completed a community service project by building a 911 app designed to contact dispatch through text. Barrett traveled with students to Jefferson City, where they met with state and local officials to discuss it.

“While being as helpful as possible, Mr. Barrett allowed us students to completely create this app,” Jeremy Bell wrote. “Mr. Barrett ensured that we stayed on task and worked as a team to make the app as effective as possible …

“Mr. Barrett helped us use our separate skill sets and work very effectively as a team, while always engaging in critical thinking.”

Barrett strives to share ways to enhance curriculum with other teachers, Nicolini wrote, and enjoys collaborating with them.

He’s open to new instructional strategies and his philosophy as a teacher revolves around exploring them “especially if these ideas make learning easier or more exciting for students,” Nicolini wrote.

Barrett also works with students in cleaning the PBTCC and PBHS areas, along with the community through adopting a street.

Outside of school, Barrett drives a bus for Westwood Baptist Church, which helps transport those without another way to get there. He has spoken in front of city council on issues and works with his wife to clean up their block of town.

“In my opinion, he is one of the most driven people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing,” PBTCC Director Charles Kinsey wrote. “Michael is a very hard working and capable individual, who is determined to do his absolute best for the students, staff and citizens he serves …

“In just the short time he has been employed at R-I, he has been a positive role model for students and staff alike.”