As she retires at the end of this year, Ms. Barat's legacy will live on in the students' lives that she has touched throughout her long career as an educator.
Never in a million years would i think that I would get out of ESL or actually like English , but when I entered Mrs.Barat’s classroom everything changed, she just lit up the room with positive energy and made me realize that I’m actually capable of doing good in not only English but in what I love , she helped me get through class after my dad had passed away and she helped me with my class work and keeping up.
I will truly miss Mrs. Shari Barat with all my heart
Shari has inspired many many students. She could always see pass behavior and find the potential of a student. It's such a pleasure working with Shari for the past 4 years! We will miss her passion and dedication for education at RNJH next year!
As one of our teachers or "learning leaders" for our summer Ignite program in Richardson ISD, Shari demonstrated dedication to supporting students with literacy and social and emotional skills. She took time out of her summer to help develop and implement meaningful learning experiences for students with the purpose of helping them regain their love of learning. Shari is passionate about helping ALL junior high students succeed at high levels. Shari's expertise and leadership are a valuable part of our Ignite program and although we are excited for her, she will be missed by the Ignite staff and students.
In my house, Shari Barat has two identities. To my grown children, she is "Mrs. Barat", 8th grade Language Arts teacher. Mrs. Barat held students to high standards and led them in National Honor Society. To me, she is Shari, a co-worker and campus leader that maintains those high standards for her work environment. We appreciate her immensely and value the contribution she has made to us as individuals and to our school as a whole. Although I am thrilled for the adventures she will pursue in the next phase of her career, we will miss "Mrs. Barat" and "Shari" next year.
As a member of the Richardson ISD Board of Trustees, I am delighted to recognize Shari Barat's long tenure as one of the RISD's most exemplary teachers. Throughout her long career, Mrs. Barat has inspired her colleagues, spent countless hours in personal and professional development and widely regarded as a subject matter expert in curriculum and instruction. Her commitment to her profession is only exceeded by her devotion to her students. There are countless adults whose lives were changed by her high exceptions, her belief in their potential and her unconditional love for every child. Mrs. Barat is the colleague we all desire, the teacher we all want for our children. While her teaching career comes to a conclusion, her influence will live on through all she has mentored and loved. Congratulations Shari, well done!
I have gotten to know Ms. Barat this year as my incredible mentor and colleague. She has guided me, supported me, and spoken up for me more times than I can count. She is not only a passionate and dedicated educator, but she is also a caring and protective mentor. Ms. Barat always has valuable advice and tips that have helped me tremendously as a first-year teacher. She will be truly missed next year, but I know that she has left a lasting impact on our students at North and the colleagues that have come to know and love her.
Mrs. Barat was one of my sons' favorite teachers at North JH. She inspired a love of literature in them that led to great dinnertime conversations about characters, authors and life. Even after they left her classroom, she offered to help them with college essays, still dedicated to their success. I am so grateful they had a teacher like her!
The only way to have lasted in the classroom for 20+ years is to have had a complete devotion to the success of your students, a love of learning, and patience. Shari has dedicated her life to teaching and has always searched for ways our school could positively impact students. As a co-worker, and friend, she has been someone to go to for advice, for direction, and for support. Knowing she will hang up her chalk makes me sad; knowing how many children's lives she's impacted, as well as other teachers along the way, makes me proud. Her shoes cannot be filled...
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Shari Barat for the last 6 years. She shows all students love and is consistent with ALL students. She helps mold them into great kids inside and outside her classroom. She has been a huge inspiration to students, colleagues, and parents. I’m so proud to work with her everyday. Love ya
I have had the wonderful privilege of working with Shari Barat for that past 17 years. Shari is such an important part of our school because she not only impacts her peers but makes such a difference in the lives of her students. She understands and connects with her students on such a deep level while not only teaching them Language Arts but many life lessons as well through the rich discussions that take place in class. Students in her room feel cared for and loved and important. Over the years she has taken on some of our most troubled students and has inspired them to step out and succeed. She has taught her students to be thoughtful and generous through the toy drive she coordinates each year as sponsor of our National Junior Honor Society. Year after year, her former students always make a point to stop by Ms. Barat's room when they happen to be in our building. I often see them anxiously approaching her room because they are so excited to see her. One of the ways she connects so well with her peers' in our school is through her wit. Shari can make everyone laugh and feel comfortable at any moment, especially moments when a good laugh is the best way to ease the stress and tension that sometimes gets the best of us. Shari Barat impacts all of us on a daily basis and this makes her a deserving candidate to receive this award. I am grateful to not only call her my colleague but a friend as well. Congratulations Shari!!
When I first started teaching 19 years ago, I was shaking in my boots. What to do, how to do it, how to stay sane? I called Shari, and probably screamed "HELP!", and she did just that. She helped me understand the district's curriculum, guided me in understanding the mind of the middle school student, and soothed my ruffled nerves on more than one occasion. Through these years I have held her in such high esteem as a devoted, dedicated teacher. Whenever I would meet RISD teachers at professional development sessions, I'd always ask, "Do you know Shari Barat?", and the smiles I saw from those who knew her said it all. She is admired by me and so many others.
I learned how to be a teacher; Shari is a teacher from the heart. I'm very proud of her, and I'm happy for the thousands of students whose lives are better because of her.
Shari is my colleague, my department leader, my confidant, and my friend. But I first knew her as my own children’s Language Arts teacher. She taught my son and daughter in consecutive years. They both always spoke very highly of her, and my daughter (the more demonstrative one) makes it a point to stop by and say hello to Ms. Barat each time she’s on campus. In her class, she created in them a love of reading and a challenge to improve their writing. In addition, she would share with them vital life lessons that they remember to this day. They still laugh about her sense of humor (7-8 years later), and will sometimes ask me what funny thing Ms. Barat has said lately. Shari has touched the lives of countless students and teachers. She is already a life changer. She has earned that title.
There are many strong and influential attributes that come to mind when I think of Shari as an educator in the classroom. First of all, the audience she is working with is well worth mentioning. Shari is challenged with educating Junior High students. Some of the most vulnerable and sensitive times of anyone’s life happens during their Junior High years. It is a time of uncertainty and incredible growth as the students are completely engrossed in their friends and establishing their identities. Shari has an ability to connect with these adolescents year after year, even as the age gap continued to widen. Her classroom management has been perfected so that all of her students feel valued and safe to express themselves knowing she will always provide a fair and equal environment. There is no doubt that her pedagogy is refined, fluent, expansive, and current. She is witty in a playful way that keeps her students engaged and “on their toes”. I believe the reason Shari’s teaching has been so impactful is because of her ability to recognize that “diamond in the rough”. A diamond’s true brilliance is only discovered under pressure, and through the cutting and polishing process. Shari can take the ordinary, unrefined student and teach them how to realize their unlocked potential with her commitment to their abilities that may be currently hidden. I have watched her time and time again connect to those students and teach them how to shine on their own. It makes me smile to think of all the beautiful “diamonds” she has sent out into the world to shine.
Congratulations on your Life Changer of the Year nomination! Can you believe you've been a fixture in room C105 at RNJH for 20 years already? What an incredible opportunity for you to share your knowledge and experience in supporting and growing so many of our Richardson students. They will always remember Ms. Barat! And I know your students have had the same wonderful impact on your own life.
You have also supported the teachers in North's ELA department, serving has department chair for more than 10 years. Thank you for all the times you've put on your battle armor for us or have assumed the protective role of mama bear to support your teachers. We appreciate all that you do for us! Best of luck to you in this award. We are in your corner!
Shari Barat has shared her love of reading and her sharp sense of humor with junior high students for years!
Countless young teenagers have benefitted from her guidance and wisdom, and look back fondly on the time they spent in her classroom.
I am the mother of three children who each had Ms. Barat for 8th grade Language Arts during their own times at North Junior High; also, I have had the privilege of teaching on Shari’s team for nearly four years.
I will always appreciate her role in giving me the opportunity to become a teacher at North rather late in life. Her support and encouragement definitely helped to change my life for the better!
Shari Barat is an exceptional teacher who always focuses on students and student learning. As a former principal I had the privilege of working with her and saw first hand the impact she has on students.
I have had the privilege to work with Shari for the past 2 decades in RISD. Shari’s students lives are changed not just through academics but through them having a champion at school who loves them like a mother. Her students that see her even after they left junior high rush to hug her and catch up with her. When my daughter took our sat class, I made sure she had Ms. Barat. Shari’s love extends beyond her students and to all she worked with. If this recognition goes to the life changer of the year, it will only live up to its name if it goes to Shari Barat.
I've had the great fortune to not only work with Shari professionally, but also have her teach my daughter. As a new teacher, she was an unofficial mentor to me even though we taught different subjects. She helped me keep perspective on what was most important for students to learn and experience. Shari can almost look at a person and instinctively know how to reach them and teach them. My daughter had Shari for 8th Grade English last year. It has been her favorite class to date. The classroom culture and safe environment Shari created for my daughter's class allowed them to open up and get to know everyone in a different way. Some of her best friends now are people she really got to know and bond with in Shari's class. Her classroom is an experience - a hug, a giggle or both if you need it. And, of course, boundaries when you need those too. Her expectations are high and so is her dedication to education and more importantly, her students.
Ms. Barat is a teacher that makes great connections with her students and challenges them academically to be their best. Ms. Barat is a champion for her students! She see's the best in them and builds them up every day. Ms. Barat has always helped our school be at it's best. She helps us set rigorous goals as a school and is willing to do what ever it takes to help the school reach those goals. Ms. Barat collaborates with her peers to design learning experiences for students that engage and challenges them at the highest levels. Ms. Barat has had an impact on thousands of students and has had a lasting impact on helping our school be excellent. Ms. Barat is a life changer!
Shari is a great teacher that understands the connections she develops with her students and life lessons that she teaches are the things her students and colleagues take with them. Shari truly believes that she is bettering the next generation and takes this role seriously. To accomplish this, Shari has been great at adapting to the changing needs of her students. Shari is also a life-long learner that impresses me with her receptiveness to try new things. She continues to grow and challenge herself, even in her last year. A conversation with Shari will quickly reveal a passion for her job, unwavering high expectations for her students, and a receptiveness to new ideas. She gives her all each day, and I know her students this year will receive the same high quality education as students in any year past.
Shari is an outstanding teacher, committed colleague, and trusted friend. She loves both her students and teaching. She has always worked very hard to create a safe environment for her kids where they feel comfortable to engage in class and grow their learning. She has truly changed the lives of countless students (including my own son), and I'm excited that she's been nominated for this award!
Throughout my education I struggled reading and I did not enjoy it. I learned to love reading in Ms. Barat’s class in 8th grade. Although we were most certainly her least favorite class because everyone talked throughout her lectures, I was still able to learn so much in her class. I feel like ms. Barat changed my life and my classmates’ lives. By the end of the year, everyone enjoyed her lectures because they had fun activities with them. Her seating charts were sometimes hard to deal with but now that I look back, I got to know new people and I started to make new friends with people who did other activities than me. Ms. Barat was most certainly my favorite teacher in junior high and I will never forget how she changed my view of English class and the way I read books every day.
There aren't enough words in the world to describe how incredible Ms. Barat is. I got the privilege of being in Ms. Barat's first and second period class during my eighth grade year of 2017-18 school year. Ms. Barat is one of the most, respected, incredible, amiable person I know. Her class taught me more than what the curriculum wanted us to know. She got us ready for our first year of high school, and taught me how to live, don't let my fears take over, and just to enjoy life. Ms. Barat cares so much about everyone one of her students who walk through her door. Every time I would see Ms. Barat, she would have a huge smile that wouldn't just lighten up my day, but everyone else's. Ms. Barat is my role model. If there was anyone I could be like, it would be her. We had so much fun in her class, and she made learning something new everyday enjoyable. Ms. Barat changed my life and helped me grow up and enjoy poetry, and reading and everything about literature. She's helped me mold into the respectable person I am today. I'm in tears that it's going to be Ms. Barat's last year of her doing what she loves most, but i'm so honored I got to be one of the students who's life changed because of her. The one thing I want to do is to show Ms, Barat that she means so much to me and that she is so amazing, becuause of how much she has impacted me. There is nothing I could every do to repay her, but all I can say is Thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for me, and everyone else you've taught. You are a true life changer, and you always have been, and always will be. Ms. Barat is the best person to receive this award because she should be honored for her hard work and everyone else can see the greatness that we got to see everyday in the classroom. I still miss Ms. Barat and her class so much. I miss seeing her every day. Her words will always stay with me through out the rest of my life. We love you!!!
Ms.barat was the best teacher I had and I will never forget her class she engaged us and made learning fun
Shari Barat engaged her students to have a passion for reading. She encouraged them to think critically and to question deeply. She taught them life skills. Along the way, she cared about them as individuals. Her impact will last a lifetime. Not only did she teach my three children, but she also guided me as I went back into the classroom to teach. She has left a indelible mark on her students and colleagues. She will be missed!
I was president of the Future Teachers of America when I was in HS and Shari was an active member. Her life long ambition was to become the best teacher ever and she has accomplished that and more. She has left her love of learning and intellectual curiosity with each young mind she has touched! Congratulations Shari!,
Ms. Barry is an incredible lady who knows how to get youth excited about learning! I will always remember her class and enthusiasm for teaching.
Ms. Barat is a wonderful teacher, colleague, and friend. She has helped me so much this year, and is also full of amazing ideas whether it deals with lesson planning, relationship building, or classroom management. I have looked to Ms. Barat this entire year, and I know I am speaking for all when I say that she will be incredibly missed next year. She has such a tremendous impact on everyone she meets, and I truly hope that she enjoys her well deserved retirement. I cannot thank Ms. Barat enough for her leadership and compassion this year, and I know that she has left a mark on our school that will stay for years to come.
Ms. Barat,
You will never know how much your class impacted me. It was there that I felt accepted and known. I will forever cherish the life lessons you gave me. Thank you for truly wanting the best for your students.
Love you!!
Addi
I was in Ms. Barat's seventh period PreAp English class during the 2015-2016 school year. Everyday there was something new to learn, something to laugh about, something to help us grow not just as students, but as people. We can all agree than junior high is a very difficult time, but it's largely because of her that I look back on the often difficult school year and smile. To this day, my friends and I continue to regard her as one of the best teachers we have ever had, and it makes me sad knowing that my younger brother won't get to experience a year in her class. That said, there is no doubt that she has left a mark on her students in a very positive way, helping them learn, mature, and grow exponentially.
Ms. Barat's class was one of the best classes I had and probably holds some of my favorite memories from junior high. No matter how her day was going, she made sure that her students had the best day. I was in her seventh period...her favorite class:) She always put a smile on my face and never failed to make us laugh! The one thing about her that stuck out to me the most was probably how passionate she was about teaching and helping us reach our full potential. No class is fun if the teacher doesn't enjoy and I could easily tell she LOVED teaching and her students. Ms. Barat cared about us so much. I remember her talking to us and if we ever felt unsafe anywhere she said she would be there for us and would come pick us up because of how much she cared about us. I believe Ms. Barat is a perfect definition of a teacher. Every teacher should strive to be like her. She impacted so many students and she should definitely receive the award. I miss her so much and wish she could've moved up to high school with me;)
It is truly my pleasure to acknowledge such a beloved and respected colleague! Ms. Barat models professional standards and deeply invests in the lives of her teacher peers and students. Ms. Barat is a GIFTED teacher who builds positive relationships with students and takes an active interest them. They certainly feel the love and support while in her class! I am most impressed by her commitment and selflessness. I feel so fortunate to have worked with her!
Ms. Barat is a diamond among jewels as a teacher and as a friend. She cares relentlessly about her students, her school, her co-workers and her district. I am one of the lucky ones as she cares that passionately about my family too. She is absolutely a life-changer.
My sister Shari Barat is truly one of the hardest working teachers I have ever know! Her class room is a safe haven for her many students and they quickly bond as friends and family. Shari approaches her teaching duties with kindness,love and a wonderful sense of humor! Her students both past and present sincerely love her and her class.
Shari keeps in touch with many of her former students and she is so interested in their stories and glows with pride at their accomplishments. I know she will miss making the connections with students once she retires.
Shari is one in a million and I am so proud to call her my sister. I can think of no one more deserving of the LifeChanger award than Shari Barat.
As not only a grateful parent of one of her former students, but also as a colleague, I have gotten to witness first-hand her dedication to students - not only her own, but every student - both past and present. A couple of weeks ago, during an Open House at our school, I saw two of her former students, now seniors, who came to visit her. She was beaming with joy and gave them a big hug. After not being in her class for four years, they were still able to remember the poem "Invictus" that they had learned in her class. They spoke about how they had never forgotten what she taught them. The scene brought a tear to my eye. Shari has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of students and colleagues over the years for one simple reason: she cares deeply about people and her calling as an educator.
Ms. Barat was one of my favorite teachers in my entire life. She was my 8th grade Language Arts teacher, and I have so many great memories in that class. Ms Barat was such a fun teacher, and she made everyone who had her laugh. Although she was fun, that didn’t distract her from teaching. She did a great job with teaching us everything we needed to know, and helped us when we didn’t understand. Before I had gone through her class, I despised reading with a passion, and I never did well on writing or reading assessments. After her class, I had improved drastically, and discovered that reading really wasn’t so bad. She taught me how to understand what I’m reading so I don’t get bored or distracted, and taught me how to analyze questions I couldn’t even read before. English quickly went to me least favorite and worst class, to my favorite and one of my best classes. I enjoyed class with her so much, and miss it so much. Ms Barat truly is a LifeChanger and deserves this award more than anyone.
Shari is one of those educators that the moment you meet her she leaves her handprint on your heart. She is genuine in all things she says and does from her passion for kids to her mentorship for colleagues. Shari was one of the first teachers that I connected with when I joined the RISD family and to this day I am so thankful for her open and honest transparency. I respect her as an educator and as a person and I hope when it is my decision to retire I can look back and know I had the same kind of impact that Shari Barat had in her career. Thank you Shari for making me better, making your kids, school and this district better. I am blessed to know you.
Ms. Barat was definitely one of the best teachers I've had. She motivates all of her students to do well. Last year, she helped me become a better student and learner. I was always looking forward to starting my morning off with Ms. Barat.
Ms. Barat was my 8th grade English teacher. She was definitely my entire friend group's favorite teacher. We would look forward to her class every day. She taught us to care more about the world around us as a whole and to really think about the news (every day we would watch CNN 10). She always had something funny to say and whether or not she was having a bad day, she would always treat us with kindness and humor. This year my friends and I miss her and relish the memories we made in that class. It's sad to hear that she'll be retiring after this year but hopefully we can keep in touch. I think she definitely deserves to win this award because she was one of the few teachers who I will never forget.
I was in Ms. Barat's class just last year but I already know that I'll never forget the time I got to spend with her
I remember having Ms. Barat my 8th grade year in 2017-2018. She was passionate, caring, and interested in everyone in our class. And that much dedication towards all her students is what makes me miss her class to this day. She made the class I was in truly feel like a family and community.
Ms. Barat is one of the most committed educators I have met. She is committed not only to her student’s success but to the success of her colleagues. She supports her teammates and is someone that her school has come to rely on! It’s been a pleasure to get to know her!
Shari is on of the best educators I know. She is a master at building and cultivating relationships with students of all backgrounds which we know aids in the learning process. One thing I admire about her is that she is a sharer of knowledge to teachers new to the profession and she works to mentor them
in order to set them up for success. I love that she leads by example and volunteers to show them the way. She is so very deserving!
Ms. Barat has been one of the most influential teachers I have had. Not only is she a fabulous person, but she truly cares about each student which shows in her teaching style. Her teaching has taught me valuable skills and I can still clearly remember my classroom experience with her.
Ms. Barat is a teacher that really connects with students. She has a great rapport with her students and in return her students work extremely hard in her classroom. She works to build relationships by getting to know the students, greeting them in the hallways, and attending their school events. Ms. Barat sets high expectations for her students and they are able to meet those expectations because of the support she provides. She focuses on growth for each individual student and gives constructive feedback to her students to ensure that it happens.
Ms. Barat also has high expectations for the students outside of the classroom. She wants her students to do their best whether it is in the classroom, athletics, fine arts, or even outside of school. The students know that she cares about them and takes interest in their lives. Ms. Barat also has a great rapport with the staff, especially her department. She is well respected by her colleagues for her dedication to her students.
Not only is Shari a joy to be around, but she truly cares for students. Her students love her, and come back to visit often. While not on the same campus, we collaborated many summers and weekends during summer school and Saturday schools. I also had the pleasure of writing curriculum with her and attending many staff development sessions with her. I will miss her dearly after she retires, but I am so happy for her as well. What a great way to end a fabulous career.
I loved having Ms. Barat as a teacher. She genuinely cares about her students and actively tried get everyone to enjoy class. Some of my fondest memories of junior high are from her class and I will be forever grateful to her for giving me some of my closest friends through her seating charts.
Ms. Barat taught me so much as my eighth grade English teacher and her class was one of my favorites to be apart of in all of my school years!
A Genuine Treasure of a co-worker, educator, and mentor! Definitely a woman who has changed 1000s of lives.
Shari is an unbelievable educator in and out of the classroom. As her goddaughter and niece, I have heard countless stories from past students who have been positively impacted by her compassionate and encouraging nature. While those students will no doubt take their year in her classroom with them for life, I am blessed to have her humor and guidance in my life continuously. I am so grateful that she had impacted so many lives, mine included, and I can't imagine anyone who would be more deserving of this honor.
Shari has touched so many lives during her career as an educator. She guided me gently when I became ELAR department chair back in 2008 at a neighboring junior high school. She gave her time to answer all of my questions. She provided ideas and suggestions when problems arose, and I felt frustrated.
For the past few years, I have served as a substitute teacher when she was absent. Her students knew her behavioral expectations, and they always delivered.
I am very proud of Shari. She's been a role model to her students, peers and parents. She will be greatly missed.
My mom, Shari Barat, is indeed a LifeChanger. She entered the teaching profession later than she may have first envisioned, after first pursuing a career in retail immediately following college. She then stayed home for a number of years to raise my sister and me. She got back into education first as a preschool teacher, and then a few years later as a substitute teacher, where she was asked to serve in a number of long-term substitute jobs. Her colleagues quickly saw in her the gift she had for teaching and connecting with young people, and encouraged her to obtain her certification to begin to teach full-time. She did, and since that time she has touched the lives of hundreds of students at the elementary and middle school level. Most of that time has been spent teaching 8th grade English, where she works to bring language and literature into her students’ lives in meaningful ways, such as when she arranged for her students to hear from and meet Holocaust survivors while they read and studied Elie Wiesel's "Night." For as much time as she spends in the classroom, she spends just as much time outside engaging the school and community over the years, serving as department chair, faculty sponsor for many school clubs including the National Junior Honor Society, teaching a district-sponsored SAT preparation course on Saturdays, and teaching summer school.
Her commitment to educating and impacting young people is evidenced by the successes her students have gone on to achieve, and by the time those same students take to come back and share those successes with my mom, years later. This award seeks to recognize teachers who “inspire” their students and go “above and beyond” to impact their lives. I cannot think a person who better embodies those ideals than my mom.
Shari has inspired so many students in her classes throughout the years! She has always treated each student as if they were her own and that’s why her students love her! Congrats Shari— so deserving as a wonderful teacher but also as a great person!
I have worked with Shari as a fellow department chair for secondary education for the past ten years. I know her to be a fierce advocate of literacy for her students, for her campus and for her district. She is a passionate and devoted teacher as well as a compassionate, intelligent individual. She impacts her students as well as her peers. As a department chair, I learned so much from her. She is a truly wonderful human who has absolutely impacted this world positively.
Shari was my son Bryce’s favorite teacher. She instilled a love of reading in him. We will always be grateful to her. Well deserved nomination!
Everyone says it takes a “special kind of person” to teach junior high kids, and Shari is just that person! She has the grit, hutzpah and genuine love it takes to bring out the best in her students. Always ready to do what she feels is best for kids, Shari has definitely changed some lives during her career.
Mrs. Barat was my 8th grade english teacher..... needless to say i hated reading like all 8th graders do. Mrs Barat found the 1 thing we had in common and ran with it, we listed to that stupid My Chemical Romance band all year and my whole class learned to have the upmost respect for her after she let a little or herself show - I am an Stephen King regular now and I love reading novels. Mrs Barat could have chose any book to have the class read but she chose the greatest novel for my school/classmates/etc. She chose The Greasers - This was my first book. In 8th grade. How relateable for me, an 8th grader who disliked school and wanted to be with her clique. I loved coming to this class and enjoying the peace of reading a new chapter in this book that i felt was chosen just for me. I have all my respects to Mrs Barat!
Congratulations, Shari, for a job well done!
Congratulations! Well deserved.
Mrs. Barat is one of those teachers you simply cannot forget. I had her for 7th period English in eighth grade, my last period of the class of my last year of junior high, and there was not a day I did not look forward to sitting in her naturally-lit classroom that always seemed to put one at ease the moment they set foot inside. Although soothing, it was not the aesthetics of Mrs. Barat's classroom that left a lasting impact on me, but rather, her attitude towards learning. Her goal was to create an environment where junior high kids could come, sit, and develop a love of reading. She did not care what book you brought--as long as it had words and was school appropriate, it passed her standards. Mrs. Barat realized that junior high is a crucial age of figuring out who you are going to be. Through books, she encouraged her students to dive deeper into what they found interesting, and leave hopefully knowing a little bit more about themselves and the world around them.
Shari was one of the first teachers I met my first year of teaching because our classrooms were across from each other. I could not have been more lucky. Not only did I gain a lifelong friend, I had an instant mentor to learn from. Her passion for languange arts is immense, but her passion for her students goes beyond. Her connections and relationships with them extends for years after junior high. Her leadership and dedication for North Junior high also leaves a legacy of positive impact that will forever be left in it's foundations. Shari is simply one of the greats!
Shari inspired me to become a teacher through her dedication to her students. She showed me that teaching isn't a career; it's a calling. Six years after first interning in her classroom, I am changing the lives of students of my own. I hope one day to touch the lives of as many students as Shari has!
I had Mrs. Barat back in 2007 for English and I still remember how impactful she was. She was so nice and encouraging! Sad to hear she’s retiring and more kids won’t be able to have her.
I had Mrs. Barat as my 8th grade English teacher and again had her as a teaching mentor during my internship my senior year of high school. Mrs. Barat is the reason I’ve become a better student and teacher since having her as a mentor. I also developed a love and appreciation for reading while being her student and remember reading the Outsider, a book I throughly enjoyed reading. Mrs. Barat is more than deserving to win this award because she has hands down been one of the most influential and inspiring teachers in my lifetime.
My mom is the BEST teacher!!
The positive influence Ms Barat has had on the students in her classroom is apparent by the love the kids have for her and as well as the number of former students who return to visit her and stay in contact with her. She is one of those teachers that you will remember fondly long after you’ve walked the halls of North Jr High. She held her kids to a high standard, expected great things from them and was encouraging enough to get it from them.
As a longtime friend and colleague of Shari’s, I am thrilled to think she will finish her career with this kind of recognition. Her life has been her students and their instruction ever since her own children attended North Junior High, and scores of kids still consider her a friend and support person. She deserves all the praise she can get!
I taught with Shari Barat 16 years ago when I was in my 3rd and 4th year of teaching. She was one of those teachers who was compassionate toward her students and passionate about her subject. Her room was full of creativity and enthusiasm. She not only inspired the kids in her classroom, but she set the bar high for new teachers like myself.
Truly a professional and an educator extraodinaire. Shari has touched the lives of many students and her legacy will endure.
Shari,
You are amazing at what you do, and you have definitely changed many lives through the years! I'm glad I get another semester to co-work with you!
I can't think of a more deserving person than Shari Barat. She's dedicated, caring, loyal intelligent, inspiring and educated. She's a great role model and I'm sure she's had a positive impact on many of her former and present students.
You go! You’ve inspired me my entire life! ??
Shari is the teacher you pray your kiddo has. The one who loves kids, being around kids and not worrying nearly as much about being on topic if the chance for real talk and impactful conversation with kids arises.
She loves kids at their most awkward age. And because they know she loves them, they feel all the more comfortable in their own skin at a time when nothing feels quite right.
She has a life changing impact on kids each year and her gift is appreciating them right where they are, accepting them and expecting them to achieve great things.
She taught all of my kids and she’s a true rock star. She helped me as well appreciate them on days I had a harder time finding the upside in a junior high kiddo.
I love her tons. Can’t say enough amazing about her. ??
Shari was my mentor and Department Chair at North Junior High. She was supportive and helpful, and an exceptional and loyal leader. Now I am a Department Chair and a mentor, and I am incredibly grateful to have learned from the best!! She not only impacts her students, but also her colleagues.
I still vividly remember how much I enjoyed your 8th grade class!! Hope all is well! :)
There are many great teachers in this world but there are only a few who are exceptional. It has been 20 years since I sat Ms. Barat’s fifth grade class. I can’t tell you her lesson plans anymore nor can I even remember the books I read in her class but I will never forget how she made me feel. I wasn’t a normal kid. I came into her classroom with 504 plan and a bit of a chip on my shoulders. Instead of seeing a child who talked too much, had the handwriting of a kindergartener and was a know it all she saw a person. She allowed me to be me which at 11 years old was a very big deal. Being not only accepted but also encouraged did so much for my self esteem. She truly is an incredible human being and I can’t think of any other teacher who deserves to be recognized as much as she does.
Mrs. Barat was my teacher in junior high and she made me love reading! I am in medical school now and I will never forget the impact that she had.
Few teachers are as beloved as Shari Barat. Students come back again and again years after leaving her classroom. Her love for her students and her passion for learning truly make her a life changer. She makes a difference in the lives of her students and her colleagues everyday. She is a most worthy recipient of this honor.
I'm not sure whether to describe Shari as a colleague or a friend. I guess she started as my mentor teacher in my first year of teaching, then she became my friend. As a first-year teacher, Shari shepherded me not only pedagogically but relationally and emotionally. She showed me how to be a good teammate and work with my crew while at the same time letting me, a first-year teacher, have a full role on my team and even lead. In the classroom, Shari's mastery of class discussion shows up every time we run into a former student out in the real world or when they come back to campus to visit her. I can tell that the relationships she has made with those students truly impacted them beyond the classroom. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to teach with Shari during my first two formative years in the classroom. Even though I can't talk to her in the hallway anymore, I know that she is only a phone call or coffee date away. It seems to me that I'm not the only one who feels this way about my connection with Shari. I hope someday to have this kind of lasting impact of my friends, peers, students, and community.
