Spotlight: Dr. Staci Barker

Growing up, the main priority for me was academics—I wasn’t encouraged to pursue a sport or art beyond the required credits for graduation. And while I know that focus led me to where I am today, and I’m not sure I’d change it for myself, I wanted something different for my daughter. Of course there is a focus on academics, but what else brings you joy? Lights a fire in you? Makes you want to get up early or stay up late? For my Anna, that’s swimming. So she balances swim practices and studying for her AP Biology test next month. 

That’s one of my favorite things about this district. We have so many opportunities, one might say limitless, for students to find their passion and excel at it. Each one of those opportunities has dedicated staff that push their students to their highest potential. One of the greatest things about being a board member is getting to attend all these events where students get to shine. From watching award-winning Hebron band march to seeing Christmas at The Colony, to watching the Farmers make another tackle on the football field, to being enraptured by Hello Dolly at Flower Mound, to bidding on and winning a metal rose made by a student at TECC-West, just to name a small few. As I write this, I’m returning from watching Marcus High School Lady Marauders Soccer take the state title. Seeing the sheer exhilaration of students as they do what they do best fills my bucket more than anything else (only surpassed by seeing it in my own child). 

And let’s not forget that to have that kind of excellence at the high school level, there have to be adults feeding into middle school and elementary kiddos. It takes middle school choir directors, band directors, coaches, club sponsors, etc. It takes elementary music teachers, PE teachers, art teachers, and other staff members letting students know that they can do anything that fills their soul if only they try. 

That brings me to my most heartfelt plea. To all who have taken the time to read my words, I beg you to advocate for our public schools and the excellence they produce. When budgets get tight, like many districts including ours are facing, often these are the programs that face the deepest cuts first. I hope and pray it doesn’t come to that for us, but we need help. We need help, specifically through advocacy for our one ask—raising the basic allotment, to make sure we can properly compensate and keep our top-notch staff, including those who spend their nights and weekends helping kids pursue their passion. That’s our passion as educators. It’s my passion as a board member to support them and show up for their students. Join me.