Carolyn Barrett has been an educator in our community since 1969 when she first became an elementary teacher with UUSD and has served our District in some capacity for the past 50 years. Having served as a teacher, mentor teacher, school site administrator, volunteer, and now as a Trustee on the UUSD Board of Education, her lifelong dedication and commitment to local education and our children made her an obvious choice for the award.
ACSA spotlighted many bright areas of Carolyn’s stellar career, including her commitment to literacy. Getting all children reading early in their life has always been a passion for her. She not only directly taught countless community members how to read as a teacher, but she has also continued to make a big difference by making sure UUSD schools have the reading intervention programs necessary to help students that need it the most.
UUSD School Board President, Tyler Nelson, commented, “Serving with Carolyn has been an educational experience, her years in the classroom are reflected in the insights she uses to make board decisions. Carolyn's knowledge of the inner workings of our schools is an invaluable resource for our board. In addition to Carolyn's depth of knowledge, she is incredibly kind and caring. Ukiah Unified is very lucky to have Carolyn's continued service.”
The Region 4 Award also recognized Trustee Barrett for her commitment to educational quality and student achievement. She has always supported instructional programs, positive school culture, staff development, and physical education for all students. Carolyn also has a long record of support for counselors in each of our schools, understanding their long-term impact on student learning.
“Carolyn is a tireless advocate for our children and has always gone the extra mile to find solutions to many challenges we have faced in education. She deserves this award. She always puts kids first and operates above the politics of her position,” said Deb Kubin, UUSD Superintendent.
Carolyn and her husband, James, moved to Ukiah in 1965. They have two children, Bryan and Kim, who graduated from Ukiah High and are both educators. They have three grandchildren who all attended school in Ukiah. Carolyn received her BA in History and MA in Education Administration from Sonoma State University. She holds a Life Teaching Credential and an Administrative Services Credential.
The Association of California School Administrators is the largest umbrella organization for school leaders in the United States, serving more than 17,000 California educators. ACSA’s top priority is advocating for public school students in kindergarten through grade 12, as well as adult learners. Their mission is to be the driving force of education in California and beyond. Learn more about ACSA at www.acsa.org.