Van Junior High is thrilled to announce Mrs. Jennifer Barker as the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year for our campus!
Mrs. Barker’s creativity, dedication, and passion for her students make her an exceptional educator at Van Junior High. Through her work in both art and theatre, she creates engaging experiences that allow students to express themselves, build confidence, and find success in and out of the classroom.
Her colleagues had so many great things to say:
“Mrs. Barker works hard, pulls her weight, and is successful with kids.”
“She has led her students to win One Act UIL and Speech UIL.”
“She teaches art and theater at both the junior high and high school levels and always goes above and beyond.”
“From decorating hallways for contests to the extreme to launching the Culture Club in its inaugural year, she brings energy and creativity to everything she does.”
Another nomination even highlighted her innovative spirit, sharing that she created an awesome Pac-Man stop-motion short for MiniCon!
Mrs. Barker’s impact is felt across campus through her leadership, creativity, and commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for students. She continually goes the extra mile to make learning exciting and memorable.
During the surprise celebration, the Vandal drum line, cheerleaders, and administrators honored Mrs. Barker with a plaque, a yard sign, and a $1,000 check from the Van ISD Education Foundation.
We are incredibly proud to have Mrs. Barker represent VJH as our Teacher of the Year.
