16 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | JULY 2025
Jennifer Barnes
Citizen of the Year
Jennifer Barnes was voted the Citizen of the Year in the Readers’ Choice awards of 2025.
She graduated in 1994 from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor degree in Fine Arts. She went on to obtain a Master’ s degree from Sam Houston State University in Curriculum and Instruction.
Barnes work life started in retail working for Nike as a part time employee and advanced to the Store Manager.
“ With the birth of our first child, I took time off to raise our family,” said Barnes.
Barnes speaks fondly of her family.
“ I have two beautiful children, Jamie, 27, and William, 23. Both born and raised in Huntsville, Texas,” Barnes said.“ My husband Jim and I will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary this year in December.”
As an art major, Barnes knew she wanted to pursue her college education and heard that there was an opening for an Art Teacher at Huntsville High School.
“ I taught art for 14 years at Huntsville High School and had started working on my Principal certification,” Barnes said.“ I was asked to become an Interim Assistant Principal at Huntsville Elementary School and the following year, joined Scott Johnson Elementary as the Assistant Principal. I held that position for four years, and am now in my fifth year as the Principal at SJE.”
I am proud that our community voted on the school bond that provided facilities for our students and the youth of Huntsville. Going to so many sporting and school competitions both as an educator and as a parent, we saw what other communities had to offer and support their students. Our students deserve that too! I am proud that Huntsville now has facilities
16 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | JULY 2025