Teacher Spotlight: Rebecca Barnes

From the moment she stepped into her kindergarten classroom, Rebecca Barnes knew she wanted to be a teacher. “I don’t have any fancy way of explaining it other than to say, it is a calling,” she says. That calling eventually led her to Holston Academy, where she’s now in her second year teaching a wide range of subjects and connecting with students around the world.

A Role That Grew with Her Passion

Rebecca originally joined Holston two years ago, and her role quickly expanded. Today, she teaches English for grades 6–12, Social Studies for grades 6–8, and both AP Language and AP Literature. She also serves as the National Junior Honor Society Adviser and works as an Academic Coach—roles that allow her to support students academically, emotionally, and personally.

When asked what she loves most about teaching here, Rebecca immediately points to the relationships she’s able to build with students from different regions and backgrounds. “My favorite part of Holston is being able to work with students across multiple ethnicities and regions and still feel like I’m connected with them,” she says.

She believes Holston’s approach to online learning is what makes that connection possible. 

“Our approach makes Holston the closest thing to brick-and-mortar in the online community. We actually see our students on a regular basis through video meetings, and I think that makes a difference in how connected we feel to our students.”

Moments That Make It All Worth It

Rebecca admits that teaching doesn’t always come with instant feedback, but the meaningful moments find their way back to her. She recalls pulling up to a fast-food drive-through and being greeted by a former student who told her how much she enjoyed her class. “The big surprise was that this particular student had learning issues, and during my time teaching her I often felt like I was not getting through to her. To hear a positive experience from her years later really made me feel like I do make a difference.”

She hopes her students carry one message with them as they move forward in life:
“Whatever you’re meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.” — Doris Lessing

A Few Fun Facts

Outside the classroom, Rebecca’s students might be surprised to learn that she can’t imagine doing anything other than teaching—though she dreams of eventually retiring to travel mountain backroads with her dogs in a fifth-wheel trailer.

A book she’s inspired by is the Golden Rule, especially in an age where communication so often happens online. “Any time I’m communicating with someone, I always think about how I would want to be approached or spoken to,” she says.

If she could take her students anywhere in the world, she’d choose Germany—drawn to its history, landscapes, and castles. And while she jokes that she doesn’t have a “teaching superpower,” she believes her love for what she does shines through.

Holston Academy is honored to highlight educators like Rebecca—teachers whose dedication, warmth, and genuine care create meaningful experiences for students around the globe.