LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Rebecca Barca-Tinus

Position: Tech Teacher / Violin Instructor
School: Chilmark School
School District: Martha's Vineyard Public Schools
City, State: Chilmark, MA

Support Rebecca Leave a comment Get Updates

Rebecca Barca-Tinus was nominated by her principal, Susan Stevens.

Ms. Barca-Tinus is the true spirit of Chilmark. She is a true team player and is willing to help anyone with just about anything. It is amazing that she finds the time to get everything done! She works with all of the students in her school as a tech teacher. She also attends faculty meetings and is always a positive voice.

Ms. Barca-Tinus teaches violin to the preschool students, as well as many other students in the community. She travels with students aboard the Tall Ship Alabama for six days in the fall, as well as to Sugarloaf, Maine for five days of skiing. Throughout the year, she works with all students to improve their computer skills. She is great at knowing each students' level and knowing what they can accomplish developmentally or academically. Teachers go to her throughout the day asking for help. Somehow, she is able to meet everyone's needs. At the end of the year, Ms. Barca-Tinus works with the fifth graders to type their speeches, as well as to create a film to be shown at graduation. This year, two teachers retired, and she found the time to make them photo books by collecting poems and photos from students, staff and the community.

Ms. Barca-Tinus is also a member of the School Advisory Council, which is comprised of teachers, parents, and community members.

"I am not sure where she finds the time to get everything done as she is only a 50% employee, but does the work of someone who works a 90 hour week," Stevens said. "The school and community would be lost without her."

886 738 820 737 743

Comments (6)

Gretchen Snyder Posted over a year ago

I am the second and third grade teacher at the Chilmark School and I am so grateful for Becky's professionalism and forethought. In her computer classes she is a patient and kind teacher explaining to each student at their level.The students are her first priority. She keeps our website updated as we give her our latest news. She attends every school event and does a short video to share with parents that can not attend. When I read she was a 50% employee I was shocked! She is always available whether she is in the school or not. As a teacher, I feel supported by her and appreciate her perspective and organizational skills in all our meeting. Becky is outstanding in her dedication to the Chilmark School, we are so fortunate to have her on our team.Thank you Becky!!!

Janice Brown Posted over a year ago

Yes. Becky is the best!! She deserves all the accolades one can heap on her. I have worked with her for many years and she is an inspiration to students and staff. Way to go Becky

Josh Thomson Posted over a year ago

Many of the activities my kids are involved in around the school and community, Becky somehow is connected if not a driving force behind it. Thank you for all your time and dedication.

Karyn Borella Posted over a year ago

Even though we're new to the Chilmark School, both of my children have already come to appreciate Becky's presence. They just love her computer class. Her class seems very developmentally appropriate, with emphasis on fun and basic competence, not on an early screen time immersion experience! We are grateful for her gentle approach. Also, my daughter is taking violin lessons from Becky. I've been able to observe Becky teaching several other children, and found that, just as she is with my daughter, Becky is an extremely kind and capable teacher. She is able to adjust her lesson level and pacing instinctively based on how her students are progressing. We really appreciate her willingness to try multiple ways to engage our daughter in making music. We also appreciated the visit from the San Francisco Quartet, an enrichment opportunity which she coordinated for the school.

Hillary Noyes-Keene Posted over a year ago

What has always impressed me about Becky is her quiet diligence to do the right thing for children and our larger community ... bring light and music to the world by patiently sharing her passion with some very young musicians. ... continue a tradition of community and self-confidence building for children by stepping into and nurturing an outdoor education program that is leaps and bounds outside of her official work contract. ... assist her peers in constructing and implementing a framework to ensure our small community school remains on the forefront of educational strength within our larger school district. Becky steadfastly commits herself to the tasks that ultimately make an enormous difference to our greater school community with no expectation for reward or acknowledgement - except that of seeing a child's face beam with inner strength.

Celeste Drouin Posted over a year ago

Becky is wonderful! I work with her during both our second and third grade computer classes and she is wonderful with the children. I also take many pictures for our school being the 2/3 classroom assistant or (ESP) as we are called now and I give them to Becky to download onto our school website which she updates regularly. Becky always makes the time to help you when she is needed and does it in a kind and supportive manner. We are so fortunate at our school to have Becky in our lives. She wears so many hats and she wears them all well!