Elizabeth Barkan ʼ03 recognized as Ohio District 8 Teacher of the Year
Elizabeth Barkan, middle and high school band director at Fairless Local Schools, was among 11 teachers announced to receive the 2027 Ohio State Board District Teacher of the Year honors.
According to the Ohio State Board of Education, the Teacher of the Year program started in 1964 with the purpose to annually identify exceptional teachers statewide and celebrate their effective work in and outside the classroom.
“I am truly humbled to be named District 8 Teacher of the Year,” said Barkan. “Even after 23 years in the classroom, my excitement to present new experiences to my students continues to grow. I know that any success I have as an educator is the result of learning from the incredible teachers around me who have inspired, challenged, and fueled my desire to keep learning in my role. I am grateful for the opportunity to now continue to learn and grow alongside the other 10 educators as a part of this year’s cohort.”
In education, the challenge for teachers is not only preparing students with the skills to serve, but also helping them to see and feel confident in their purpose for the future. For Barkan, she refers to the relationships built with students and the life lessons taught as what prepares students to excel in their future.
“I once heard the phrase, ‘Your life may be the only Bible someone ever reads,’” Barkan said. “While these words were deeply convicting at first, they have become a guiding principle for me, especially in a public school setting. I find this generation deeply seeking connection, and I see that before students can fully engage in learning, they need to feel safe, valued, and seen.
“As a band director, I am grateful for the opportunity to watch my students grow from fifth grade through high school graduation. The moments of leadership and what I learn from my students during my time with them remind me that education is about much more than performance. I hope that the way I treat others reflects the values I strive to live by and sets a positive example for all my students.”
Much like the example Barkan has set in the lives of her students, she also credits her Malone experience and her past professors for how they influence her current work as an educator.
“I am deeply grateful for the immersive, faith-based education I received at Malone, as it gave me the opportunity to see how faith and core values can be woven naturally into everyday life” she said. “Professors like Dr. Jesse Ayers and Dr. Neal McMullian shaped the way I view the world in lasting ways. They did far more than teach course content—they modeled what it means to live your faith and to put ‘Christ’s Kingdom First.’ Their example continues to influence both my life and my work as an educator.”