Ensights Magazine

Barb Daugherty retirement

A Retirement Tribute to Barb Daugherty

Terri Schulz
Terri Schulz, Lower School Technology Integration Specialist, reflects upon her long-time colleague, Barb Daugherty, who retired from Ensworth in 2021.
When I met Barb just a little over 30 years ago, she was Miss Railsback. We both taught math, we both lived in Bellevue, we both had children in the same Ensworth class, so we had connections there, and became friends right away. Over the years when Barb gave me rides to or from work or at conferences, we have had many fun conversations centering around hobbies, family, faith, and school. So, we have been friends and colleagues for a long time.

Barb has given loads of time and care to her Ensworth students. My daughter was lucky enough to have her for a math teacher, and I asked her, out of curiosity, “Do the children understand Mrs. Daugherty because she really talks fast?” And I’m from the north, so I get it, but how does that go over? My daughter said, “They get used to it pretty quickly, and, Mom, they really love her. There are always kids around her.” And she was right. As I’ve observed over many years, Barb always has a group of children around her. And this is why she is super-enthusiastic. She has tons of energy. She loves puzzles and challenges. She gave her time to Destination Imagination after school. And she plays with the kids. They just love that. On the numerous fifth grade trips, Barb loved to hike with the kids or participate in the group-building activities with them. She’d ask them lots of questions, not because she was chaperone, but because she was genuinely young at heart and loved them so much. At night, I’d lay in my bunk with the timer and announce lights out, and Barb would say, “Could I just play one more card game with them?” So, she’d plop in the middle of the floor with them and play cards and laugh and enjoy every minute. They loved it. So, I’m in bed rolling my eyes, but she made the better choice. She gave her time and enthusiasm to those kids, and it was so much more meaningful to them—the kind of moments they will remember and cherish.

Barb was the same way at school, willing to reach out to give to the kids that energy and care and extra time. Although she often released children a little late from class, she sensed what they needed and was willing to stop and take that time, which was also her planning time, to offer help. Her focus was on that child and finding snippets of extra time for what a child needed. When I was in middle school, my math teacher offered his lunch time every day for math practice and questions. We brought our lunch, gathered, and sat around to work on math. We took our free time to do this because he was so kind and so helpful and made that time so relaxed. I remember that. It was so valuable and meaningful to me. I know that dozens of Barb’s students will remember her fondly in this way, too.

Barb and her husband, Jim, have raised three wonderful children: Alex, Joshua, and Sarah, all Ensworth students. Sarah graduated this spring, in fact! Jim has been dogging Barb for several years now to retire along with him, and now they will be enjoying new ventures together. They will hike and take neighborhood walks and be able to spend more time with their long-time Bridge club friends. Barb will probably continue to sing for her church choir. She would sing at every faculty holiday sing, and beautifully sings our school alma mater at the annual closing exercises. Barb, when my kids and I would drive off the Ensworth campus on the last day of school each year, we would unroll the windows and belt out the Ensworth alma mater in celebration. I bet if you were driving me home today, we could do that!

Thank you to a dear friend and colleague. Your friendship means so much. We all thank you for your kind spirit and the love you have given to these children and to our Ensworth community. Cheers!
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Ensworth is a coeducational, kindergarten through twelfth grade, independent day school.