31 years later, her school district job is done

Linda Barker has done a little bit of everything in 31 years as a Laguna Beach Unified School District employee.

The Southern California native has taught students and teachers, represented the district’s educators as president of the Laguna Beach Unified Faculty Assn., and filled in for former Top of the World Elementary Principal Ron La Motte when he needed to go off-site.

It’s a run that elicits fond memories for Barker, who is retiring. Her last day is Thursday.

Barker made the decision earlier this spring after the faculty association and district agreed on a 4% pay raise for teachers next year. The school board approved the raises last week.

“I’m excited about the incoming contract ... and decided this was the time to pursue other things such as taking the time to travel with family and friends,” Barker said.

Barker grew up in Riverside County and moved to Laguna Beach in 1975.

She started with the district as a first-grade teacher at Top of the World in 1984 and taught students in second, fourth and fifth grades in her 29 years at the school.

Barker has an affinity for science and said one of her proudest achievements was securing a grant from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation in the late 1990s for hands-on experiments.

“Science is the one subject kids don’t want to end,” Barker said. “Kids can experience it in a hands-on way rather than just reading from a textbook.”

Barker taught her students about the benefits some critters provide, such as bees producing honey. In fact, it was a student who sparked Barker’s interest in bugs.

“A boy who is now 19 or 20 started collecting insects with his grandfather in Laguna Beach,” Barker said. “I learned how to pin and mount insects and make them works of art.

“It was fun to show them 8- or 10-inch [stick bugs] and rhinoceros beetles.”

On a trip to Cambodia, Barker learned how to spin silk from the cocoon of a silkworm. She said she couldn’t replicate the exercise in class because the task requires several vats of boiling water to extract the silk.

Two years ago, Barker changed roles and became a teacher on special assignment. She taught teachers how to develop lesson plans that align with new Common Core state standards.

Barker said she will miss helping instructors create more effective teaching strategies and seeing students around campus.

“The children got to know me and introduced me to their parents,” she said. “Working with teachers, the union activities, I’ve formed some great friendships.”

Barker, who declined to give her age, is married with two daughters in their 30s and one granddaughter. She said she is looking forward to visiting art museums and traveling.

Traveling “helped me have empathy and understand different perspectives,” Barker said.

Board President Ketta Brown gave Barker a gift bag at last week’s board meeting.

“You brought a zeal for each and every role during your storied career,” Brown said. “You are an example of grace and the epitome of the ultimate educator.”

Laguna Beach High special education teacher Mindy Hawkins will be president of the faculty association.