Henrico’s Top Teachers – Justin Bartlett, Baker ES
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Growing up in Henrico’s East End, Justin Bartlett noticed how students were treated. It differed by the classes they took and sometimes by their race, Bartlett said.
He made these observations two decades ago as a student at Baker Elementary School. Now, he’s a fourth-grade teacher at the same school.
“I wanted to make sure that I was a voice and an advocate for those students in the East End,” Bartlett said. “We know that the East End doesn't necessarily have the greatest reputation, but there's some great things that happen in the East End. For me, being in a position to give back and to provide those opportunities was really my passion and my purpose for becoming a teacher.”
Bartlett is ingrained in the community. He attends students’ sporting events and has been invited to baptisms. Bartlett said his students know that he is rooting for them and advocating for them while at the same time holding them accountable.
“I definitely feel at home I feel like I can make more of a difference in this population because they can see an African American male and see it's not just all bad things that happen to African American males – we can really make a difference in in the community,” Bartlett said. “Coming back to the same community, I have a really close connection and relationship with all of the neighborhoods and especially with the parents. When it's time for discipline or time for academic resources or just trying to hear the parents out, I really have the upper hand in reaching the parents in the community because they see that I'm a product of their same community.”
When the pandemic forced school closures in March 2020, Bartlett began to deliver meals every Friday to students in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the East end. Each Friday, he brought something – pizza, spaghetti, sandwiches. The school division did provide lunches for students at drive up food stations, but transportation is often an issue, especially in the middle of the day when parents are at work. Bartlett immediately got to work and began collecting donations for food so he could hand deliver meals to his students.
“I was able to see the students, able to check on them make sure they didn't need anything extra, and if they did and I had the resources to provide that for them. Parents were very excited,” he said. “(Students) were just excited to see somebody from the school really giving back to them, not just academics but just basic human needs.”
For about five months, Bartlett delivered meals to students in the community each Friday, ensuring they had enough food for the weekend. And while he was at it, Bartlett was able to connect students with tutor resources and deliver books and supplies that had been donated.
“I'm a huge risk taker when it comes to my students,” Bartlett said. “While some may frown upon or may turn their nose up at how I connect with my students, the relationship and the impact is what's more important for me. I want to make sure that they know that they have somebody who is rooting for them and advocating for them even if it ruffles some feathers.”
