Barbara Weston has retired as lead and English teacher for Midlands Middle College in Lexington, and currently works as a consultant. Previously, Weston has served as curriculum coordinator in Orangeburg County Consolidated School District Three in Holly Hill, teacher-in-residence at the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement in Rock Hill, co-director of Title II Teacher Quality Enhancement for the South Carolina Department of Education in Columbia and co-director of No Child Left Behind Title II Part A for the South Carolina Department of Education in Columbia. As a former teacher of English, drama and reading at Five Points High School, an urban alternative school in Columbia, Weston expanded her reach beyond subject matter. "In this age of violence and drugs, I am literally in the business of saving lives," said Weston. "For so many students, the only time they feel safe and valued is in their schools." To address students' needs, Weston created the Bradley Buddy program, a joint mentoring program with a local elementary school. That program's success set the stage for the Adopt-A-Peer program, a schoolwide partnership with the local middle school. These programs evolved into a service learning program through which all students devoted their Fridays to volunteer work with community organizations.
1976 South Carolina State University, B.A.
