Beloved White Rock Elementary kindergarten teacher Rhonda Barnes will retire this month after 38 years in education. Grateful parents threw her a party at Oak Highlands Brewery Friday, with some alums driving in from college campuses to show their appreciation.
Barnes taught at Northpark Presbyterian Church and in Dallas ISD before coming to WRE, where she led 5-year-olds for 17 years. After years of living just blocks from the school, husband Eugene, daughter Madison and son Trent say they are accustomed to her being recognized like a celebrity when the family goes out in the community.
“Last night was so amazing. I have never felt so loved,” Barnes said after the party. “This retirement is bittersweet. I think my favorite part was seeing so many of the kids I’ve taught over the years in one room and listening to them say things I’ve taught consistently, like ‘Kindergarten rocks,’ or Bears are the best.’ I even Face Timed Jonathan Barrows, who brought me flowers all those years on the last day of school.”
If you’d like to send Barnes a message, you can email her for a couple more weeks at Rhonda.Barnes@risd.org.
