After earning her Bachelor of Liberal Studies from the University of Central Florida and adding her master’s degree in education leadership from the American College of Education, Barringer got to teaching, with stints at multiple schools.
“My background in education is kind of eclectic,” Barringer said. “I taught in some places, stayed home with my kids for a little bit while they were young, then was the executive director of a nonprofit that did school planting, which is how I got back into education. I wanted to teach again, so I did that for a year then it was straight back into administration.”
Barringer is eager to learn every name and face, and see the growth that’s sure to come for students and teachers. “When a student realizes their potential, when a new teacher starts to feel their confidence; that’s why I come here every day.”
“Teaching is a difficult profession.” It’s a phrase Barringer tells her teachers often. What they’re asking the students to do is hard. So, she values being able to make those close connections with staff and students because it’s genuine. When everyone is working toward the same goal, camaraderie is formed.
The school’s nine Moral Focus virtues are important to Barringer, because she understands the need for well-rounded scholars. “My desire is for these students to become good citizens. Society always looks to schools to guide generations into adulthood, and where I think we can really make an impact is using the Moral Focus virtues with the children and getting them to understand what they mean.”
Barringer’s passion is in school operations. She loves reaching across the space between school and parents. Safety is her first topic to establish trust. “They must trust that I'm going to keep their children safe, and that can mean many things. That's physically safe, mentally safe, and emotionally safe.”
She hopes to prepare each scholar to move on to high school, confident in their foundation of skills and ready for a successful future.
Quick facts:
- Barringer wanted to be a U.S. senator when she was growing up.
- She has a huge fondness for dancing.
- Candy is Barringer’s kryptonite. She loves all kinds.
Check out a school near you!
About Wake Forest Charter Academy
Wake Forest Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Wake Forest, North Carolina, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
Visit Wake Forest Charter Academy's blog to read more stories like this.