A & E

When Debbie Barry retired from teaching a few times to raise her children, it was more accurate to say she just reduced her class size to one.

A full-time teacher at Freeport Kindergarten Center, Barry puts a lesson in every activity she engages in with a child, even as simple as counting the steps she climbs with her grandson Caleb.

That immersion in education led to her being named a Sam's Club teacher of the year. She was presented with the award in a ceremony Friday at the school. Twelve-year-old son Asa made the presentation that included flowers and a gift card. Berry, 51, of Winfield, and her husband Cary, also have a daughter, Julie, and a son, James, who has been deployed to Iraq three times, but recently returned to the United States.

Berry was chosen among 22 area teachers who were nominated by students and families at the Pittsburgh Mills Sam's Club during the summer. Sam's Club Marketing Supervisor Chris Striker said the family who nominated Barry stressed her sensitive recognition to students' special needs and her classroom personality. "We try to recognize teachers, because they are an important part of the fabric of our communities, especially in this day and age."

The Kindergarten Center received a $1,000 grant, and Barry won a gift card for her classroom. The school also is eligible for national recognition, which would award an additional $2,500 grant.

"This is humbling," Barry said. "Any of my colleagues deserve this award."

Although Barry's formidable teaching experience was not a criteria for the award, it shaped her dedication and enthusiasm for teaching. She started teaching kindergarten in the South Butler School District in 1978 until the birth of her older two children. She then taught at a private school and started a preschool program at her church, which grew and necessitated hiring another teacher. After her youngest child was ready for school six years ago, she returned to full-time teaching at Freeport. She was satisfying a habit for education she just couldn't kick.

Her lessons vary yearly, but her goal is to teach her students early literacy skills, basic math and acclimate them to group dynamics while strengthening their independence.

"My favorite lesson is showing that cutting a folded piece of paper in different patterns will make a unique snowflake," she said. "It's a valuable learning experience because everyone winds up with a distinctive snowflake in the end, but also after one or two wrong cuts, they'll find out they just cut the paper in half and have to try it another way. Even after the project is over, they'll want to cut snowflakes."

Her class sizes, for both morning and afternoon sessions, average 12 students. That means her biggest challenge is reaching students with a range of learning styles. She has found the best way to reach everyone is to plan as many participatory activities as possible.

Barry is looking forward to Pirate Day, themed around the letter P. That kind of mixture of fun and education is her formula for students who will be enthusiastic about learning.

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