WASHINGTON — A high school teacher in Northwest D.C. was presented with the 2024 DC Teacher of the Year award from Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday. The annual award comes with more than just a title for Beth Barkley, who teaches at Cardozo Education Campus.
Barkley was surprised by the mayor, State Superintendent Dr. Christina Grant, and Cardozo Education Campus students and staff with the award -- which comes with a $7,500 prize.
“We are incredibly proud and grateful to celebrate Beth Barkley as our 2024 Teacher of the Year,” Mayor Bowser said. “Teachers like Ms. Barkley are the foundation of strong school communities. Her approach to education represents the passion and care that our educators bring to the classroom and we look forward to cheering her on as she competes for National Teacher of the Year.”
The award is given to a DC Public Schools (DCPS) or public charter school teacher who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to student achievement. Barkley has taught at the school for eight years in the school’s International Academy and teaching a Human Rights and Social Action class for newcomer students. Before this, she taught English for grades 4-9 and Spanish literacy for adults in Prince George's County and El Salvador.
“Beth Barkley has become such an integral part of so many newcomer students’ lives by ensuring they are seen and heard in their school and communities, by providing a lifeline to family in their native countries, and by ensuring they have access to the high-quality education, services and supports our schools offer and they deserve,” said State Superintendent Dr. Grant. “As 2024 DC Teacher of the Year, Beth Barkley will have an opportunity to further amplify the voices of vulnerable and marginalized students in D.C. and nationally, as a candidate for National Teacher of the Year.”
For Barkley, she said the most important advice she could give was to listen to students.
"They're inspiring, and if we take the time to sit and listen with them, hear their needs and work together, and stand with them, our class and our community will be better," she said.
She is also a 2020 DC Teacher of the Year finalist and recipient of the DCPS Rubenstein Award for Highly Effective Teaching.
In addition to working with English learners at Cardozo's International Academy, she also serves as teacher lead for the International Academy’s Family Engagement Leadership team. In this role she helps students and their families in adapting to and succeeding in their new educational environments.
She also works with students to organize for justice outside of the classroom, including a campaign for access to mental health services and resources for immigrant students and families. Her students have also seen growth in their test scores and English language comprehension, with many doubling their expected growth in writing assessments.
Barkley is now in the running for the National Teacher of the Year Award. She will receive an additional $5,000 to support travel to national conferences, workshops, and other professional development opportunities during her one-year term as 2024 DC Teacher of the Year.