Evergreen Staff Spotlight

🌟 Celebrating the People Who Make Our Schools Work 🌟

Meet Noreen Barkman – Grade 1 Teacher, Riverton Early Middle School

For 30 years, Noreen Barkman has been guiding Evergreen’s youngest learners through some of the most important steps in their educational journey. From the first sounds of reading to the first sentences of writing, she has celebrated countless milestones with her students — and still feels the same joy today as she did three decades ago.

Teaching was always her dream. “From my youngest memories, I wanted to be a teacher,” Noreen recalls. Inspired by her mother, also a teacher in Evergreen, she grew up surrounded by lesson plans and the passion for helping children succeed.

Noreen says one of the most rewarding moments in her career is witnessing a child realize they are a reader or writer. “To see the pride in their eyes is irreplaceable,” she explains. “Students often want to share their growth by reading to the principal or another adult — it’s such a powerful moment.”

Beyond the classroom, Noreen treasures the connections she’s built within Evergreen. “We are a small division, which makes it easier to get to know people personally, share goals, and feel connected between schools,” she says. She also appreciates the division’s strong commitment to professional learning, which has fueled her own growth as an educator.

At the heart of her philosophy is a deep belief in the importance of public education. “Public education is a fundamental right for all,” Noreen affirms. “Children are at the heart of what we do, and our goal will always be to help them learn and grow as they become citizens who will improve our future.”

Thank you, Noreen, for your dedication, passion, and the countless lives you’ve touched in Evergreen classrooms.
 
Interviewed by and pictured with trustee Sandra Davies.