“Newspaper and journalism has changed a lot; it’s changed with technology, and it’s changed with the community’s perceptions of journalism,” adviser Julie Barker said. “It’s important to help students know that we are trying to do the most accurate thing.”

In the fall of 2007, Barker began working as an English teacher and yearbook adviser for Augusta. Three and a half years later, she added newspaper adviser to her responsibilities.

“Coming to Augusta was an opportunity to really collaborate with people,” Barker said. “At my previous job, I was the only person who did what I did; it began to feel isolating.”

Barker aims to reach a wider audience as well as teach life-long lessons to the staff and students. 

“My goal for this year is to grow kids,” Barker said. “The skills that they learn in this class will benefit them no matter what they do.”

Outside of teaching, Barker works to separate life and school through travel, personal days and family time.

“I am working on making school not my entire life; it’s been a lot of my life for the past 28 years,” Barker said.” I want to be the best teacher I can be, but then I also want to have a life outside of school.”

This school year, Barker plans to attend a church mission trip to Cuba. The trip’s purpose is to provide food, medicine, electricity and clothing to the citizens of Placetas, Cuba.