Board Member
Ali Barker, BOE Member
abarker@cantonschools.org
Ali Barker is an active and engaged community member, and is eager to begin her work on the Canton Board of Education. She has two children who are recent Canton graduates; Tommie, who is completing their last semester at the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford, and James, who is studying acting and directing at the University of New Hampshire.
Ali received her MSW at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and worked with a number of populations, including parenting and pregnant teen girls, and suburban students grades K-8. She worked with both regular and special education students, within classrooms, and also in both group and individual sessions.
Ali has been an active participant in her communities, both in Illinois and in her time living in Canton. She has been a room parent, a sports booster, a member and leader in PTOs, and a member and leader most recently with Canton Friends for the Arts. She has found that engaged participation in school-based organizations is a wonderful way to meet other families and also stay in tune with what is going on in our schools.
As a former school social worker, Ali hopes to bring a unique perspective to her work on the Board of Ed. She understands how schools work, and the problems facing our students and educators. As a member of school-based organizations, she has been able to cultivate relationships with school staff and administrators. Finally, being the parent of recent Canton grads, she understands what challenges are facing our young people as they are leaving our schools, and how we can best prepare them for success in the outside world.
When she is not attending to BoE tasks, you can find Ali working in the children’s section at the Canton Public Library, attending her oldest child’s college track meets, watching her youngest child’s shows, working out, or trying new restaurants with her husband, Jed. Ali is honored to be chosen to represent the Canton community in her role in the Board of Ed, and is excited for the work ahead!