Welcome to Kindergarten

My name is Anna Bowser, and I am a Kindergarten Teacher here at Barrett. I have had the pleasure of teaching at our school since 2019. I hold both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners from George Mason University. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, working out, and spending quality time with friends and family. I wish you well!

My name is Mackenzie Jones. I am a Special Education Kindergarten teacher. I have a Bachelor's degree in Multi-Age Special Education from KSU and a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education from Lynchburg University. I grew up in northeast Ohio but am now happy to now consider Virginia home. I enjoy hiking, reading, and doing yoga!

My name is Patty Hines (Ms. Hines of the Honey Bees!) and I am a kindergarten teacher. When I’m not at school or thinking about how to be a more effective educator, I enjoy running, reading, spending time with my family and baking!

Hello! My name is Andrea Donovan. I have been teaching at Barrett since 1995. After many years of regular classroom teaching in K, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade, I moved to the English Learner (EL) Department where I primarily support English language learners in kindergarten. I have a Masters in Elementary Education and an endorsement in teaching English as a Second Language from George Washington University. Through opportunities connected to Dr. Laurie Sullivan and Project Discovery at Barrett, I have had the great fortune to participate in many NASA related activities. Some highlights are studying robotics at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, CA and performing a second grade experiment on NASA’s Reduced Gravity Jet in Houston, TX. I love being part of a school that promotes STEM learning! I also work with the Washington-Liberty Winter Guard each year. My husband, Bill, teaches 6th grade mathematics at another Arlington school. We have two daughters in college, three cats, and a rabbit. I look forward to teaching your students!

My name is Cristina Torres. My undergraduate studies were done at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. I received my Master’s degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. I started teaching in 1990 in Arizona and California. I have also taught in Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and Paraguay as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer. I have also taught in Mexico. I have been teaching at Barrett since 1998. I am certified to teach Elementary Education (K-6), Bilingual Education (K-6), English as a Second Language (K-12) and Spanish as a Second Language (K-12). In 2012, my colleagues at Barrett elected me school Teacher of the Year. I am proud of being the parent of one son who is a Barrett alumni. Mi nombre es Cristina Torres. Soy Licenciada en Idiomas de la Universidad de Houston, Texas. Hice mis estudios de Maestría en Educación en la Universidad de Arizona, en Tucson, Arizona. Empezé a enseñar en 1990 en los estados de Arizona y California. He enseñado en Cabo Verde, Guinea Bissau y Paraguay, como voluntaria del Cuerpo de Paz de los Estados Unidos. También he enseñado en México. He estado trabajando como maestra en la Escuela Barrett desde 1998. Soy maestra certificada por el Departamento de Educación del Estado de Virginia, para enseñar Educación Primaria (K-6), Educación Bilingue (K-6), Inglés como Segundo Idioma (K-12) y Español como Segundo Idioma (K-12). En 2012, mis colegas de Barrett me eligieron la Maestra del Año de la escuela. Estoy muy orgullosa de tener un hijo graduado de la Escuela Barrett, donde yo enseño.

~THIS WORLD IS BURSTING WITH LIFE FOR THESE FEW DAYS BECAUSE THE SONG WITH WHICH I CALLED IT INTO BEING STILL HANGS IN THE AIR AND RUMBLES IN THE GROUND~ My name is Andrew Myers. I was born in Arlington, and grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. I earned my undergraduate degree in Studio Art at a tiny Liberal Arts college in Southeastern Pennsylvania, called Franklin & Marshall. I enjoy reading, stargazing , setting and pursuing goals, classical American political philosophy, podcasts, country music, and steak! Last of the Mohicans is my favorite movie, A.B. Guthrie is my favorite author, The Warrior Kid is my favorite podcast, Old Dominion is my favorite band, UFC is my favorite sport, and baseball was my first true love. In my life I have been a baseball coach, a gym maintenance man, a volunteer backcountry assistant park ranger in Alaska, a real estate appraiser, and an historical restoration carpenter. By far the most meaningful profession I’ve ever engaged in is teaching. My favorite children’s story is The Chronicles of Narnia series, by C.S. Lewis. It reminds me that (despite its challenges), Life, Being, is a great gift, and that the world need not be the way that it is (In fact, it need not even be, at all). I believe that EVERYTHING depends on the recognition of this gift, and I aim to communicate to my students my own wondrous awe at the great good of existence. The fantastical tale of Lucy and her siblings points to what children do: they explore, they discover, they take chances, and they range in the world with a constant hunger for its wonders. That is the mode, the vocation of the child. Children encounter the Good, not as the comfortable and safe (that’s what adults do); the child’s idea of the Good is something deeply attractive, marvelous, and kind of perilous, like Aslan. “At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside …Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.” -The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis,1950.

Hello! My name is Zoila Suria and I am a Kindergarten Assistant Teacher. I became a part of the Barrett Team in 2008 and I have been an Assistant Teacher since September 2012. #KWBPRIDE I am originally from El Salvador. I graduated with a Bachelors' in Early Childhood Education from Francisco Gavidia University in 1998.  Upon graduating, I became a Preschool teacher in El Salvador. I love to receive and nurture the little ones as they step into their path of learning and development. I  take pleasure in seeing the children grow emotionally, socially, and intellectually. I am an Arlington resident and when I am not in a classroom, I am enjoying my time outdoors with my family and our chow chow Louie. We love museum exhibits, concerts, and watching the local teams play!. #DCU #AllCaps #Wizards ___________________________________________________________________ Español ¡Hola! Mi nombre es Zoila Suria y soy una Asistente de Kindergaden. Me integré al equipo de Barrett en el 2008.  Y he sido asistente de maestra desde Septiembre del 2012. Soy originaria de El Salvador. Me gradué de profesora en Educación Parvularia de la Universidad Francisco Gavidia en 1998. Me apasiona contribuir en la educación de los pequeños, a medida que entran en su camino de aprendizaje y desarrollo. Disfruto especialmente ver a los niños crecer emocional, social e intelectualmente. Vivo en Arlington y cuando no estoy en el aula, disfruto de mi tiempo al aire libre con mi familia y nuestro chow chow Louie. Nos encantan las exhibiciones de los museos, los conciertos y ver jugar a los equipos locales!