About Me

Contact Information

email: jay.barrett@amaisd.org

phone: 806-326-2805

Education & Degrees Held

Bachelor's of Arts with English/Journalism Education double major from West Texas State University, 1985
Master's of Arts in Education with a mid-management certification from West Texas A & M University, 1993
Superintendent certification through West Texas A & M University, 2003

Educational Background

The 2019-2020 school year marks 12 years for me as principal at AACAL and my 35th year in education. Wow how time flies! I've worked with lots of great teachers during my tenure at AACAL and at a few other places I've been. Below is a brief history of my career as an educator.

AACAL Principal 2008-Present
Travis MS Principal 2000-2008
Forest Hill Principal 1995-2000
PDHS Assoc. Prin. 1993-1995
Tascosa Asst. Prin. 1991-1993
Pampa High English/Tennis 1985-1991
Student taught at Rota, Spain Spring 1985

Community Service

I enjoy serving Amarillo ISD as principal, but I also take pleasure serving the community of Amarillo in roles complementary to my principalship at AACAL. These roles include the following.

Amarillo College Regent
Secretary, Community College Association of Texas Trustees Board of Directors
Amarillo College Foundation Board of Directors
Amarillo Economic Development Corp. Strategic Advisory Board
WT Enterprise Center Board of Directors
Panhandle Workforce Development Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Amarillo Technology Initiative Board of Directors
Golden Spread Council, Boy Scouts of America Board of Directors
Maverick Boys' and Girls' Clubs in Amarillo Board of Directors
Co-Founder, Gateway to Health Careers (Especially proud of this great work we are doing in the 26 counties of the Texas panhandle.)

Social Media

Below is a linked list of social media where you may find out more about me.

LinkedIn
Twitter @jaybarrett10
Facebook
Instagram @jaybarrett100

Career Academy--Coming August 2021!!

Amarillo ISD’s new Career Academy building to get $54.4 million makeoverNew details on Career Academy coming to Amarillo

Amarillo ISD board approves design for new career academyThe Amarillo Independent School District Board of Trustees approved schematic designs of the district’s new career academy at a special meeting

Amarillo ISD shares development plans for new career academyNew updates on Amarillo Career Academy

'Going to be very good': Amarillo Economic Development Corporation hosts second State of the Economy eventNearly 300 business leaders and residents of the Panhandle came together Wednesday morning for the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation’s

Live - from State of the Economy - Amarillo Economic Development CorporationState of the Economy - Amarillo Economic Development Corporation by Panhandle PBS on Livestream - Livestream.com

An Amarillo Career Academy will soon come into fruitionThe possibility for a stem-based career academy in Amarillo, is a story ABC 7 News has been following since Amarillo ISD purchased the former Hastings warehouse in 2017. Last week, Amarillo ISD’s school board met to discuss plans for this vision that is now finally coming to fruition. But, how does the district plan to transform the old Hastings warehouse into a school?

Awards Received Spring 2019

Amarillo ISD principal becomes finalist for educator award competitionPrincipal Jay Barrett of the Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning School was announced as a finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award, making him one of five secondary education principals in the state.

Barrett Awarded Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator Award by Golden Spread Council of Boy Scouts

FIRST Robotics Competition at the Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum

Amarillo welcomes FIRST Robotics CompetitionMore than 300 students will flock to Amarillo for the FIRST Robotics Competition that will happen at the downtownAmarillo Civic Center Complex on March 7-9. This is the first year that Amarillo has hosted the event, and it was brought to Amarillo by a group called the Amarillo Technology Initiative.

The Handle: Robots Rule | Season 2 | The HandleSee how a new statewide robotics competition is wiring students with new skills

Amarillo hosts district robotics competition this weekendThe robotics competition is a first of its kind event being held in Amarillo.

Amarillo hosting robotics competitionThroughout the weekend the Amarillo Civic Center is hosting what officials hope is the first of many robotics competitions here, with an overarching goal

Amarillo Hosts District Area 'FIRST' Robotics CompetitionSTEM event to feature more than 30 high school teams from across three states

Students test robotics competition entryA group of students comprising the Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning's robotics team are gearing up for next month's FIRST Robotics Competition,

Food Computer built by AACAL Engineering Students

AACAL 'Nerd Farmers' Grow Lettuce with Food ComputerThree AACAL students may have the solution when it comes to growing food in different climates. The students created a food computer in the fall.

‘Nerd farmers’ in the Panhandle: Engineering students building food computer for agriculture industryStudents at the Amarillo Area Center for Advanced Learning are thinking outside the farm when it comes to agriculture in the Panhandle.

Food Computer ProjectFood Computer Project

Work as an Amarillo College Regent has been rewarding, to say the least

Achieving the Dream honors AC with national award for improving student successAmarillo College, and co-recipient Columbus State Community College (Ohio ), received formal recognition for developing innovative student-success strategies at ATD’s 15th Annual Conference in Long Beach, Calif.

Amarillo College receives Bellwether Award for their efforts to tackle student povertyAmarillo College has been awarded the Bellwether Award by the Community College Futures Assembly in the planning, governance and financing category.

Amarillo College wins prestigious award for poverty initiativeAmarillo College was awarded the prestigious Bellwether Legacy Award for their No Excuses Poverty Initiative on Monday at the 25th Anniversary Community College Futures Assembly in San Antonio.

The Thrive Scholarship ProgramIf you are a student at any of the AISD schools, this is the scholarship for you. That includes students who just graduated this year.

Waiting to speak with Senator Cornyn in a senate hearing room at the Dirksen Senate Office Building

Running for AC Regent was hard but rewarding work

AACAL Attributes highlighted by Raise Your Hand Texas

Harvard-Bound Principal Uses Playing Cards to Prepare Students for LifeAll kids deserve a fair shot at success in school and life. Strengthening public education takes all of us. That is why Raise Your Hand Texas exists.

Jay's Journey to Harvard

Jay's Journey to Harvard Part 1.mp4

In Their Own Words: Jay’s Journey to HarvardAll kids deserve a fair shot at success in school and life. Strengthening public education takes all of us. That is why Raise Your Hand Texas exists.

Featured Media

Beyond the walls at AACAL

AACAL Profile Graduate (1).mp4

What is AACAL?

Gateway to Health Careers

Rural_Healthcare_Rev2_Final.mp4Shared with Dropbox

Raise Your Hand Texas Highlighting CTE in AISD

Select Presentations

AACAL: Creating Successful Industry Experiences for High School Students

Project-Based Learning for the 21st Century Learner (2)

Bruce Beck Keynote

Back to School 2017-2018.ppt

AISD L4 Conference--The Future

Student Assembly 17-18.pptx

Report abuse