Dalton, GA — Dalton Public Schools is proud to announce that Jessica Barbosa has been named The Dalton Academy’s 2024–2025 Classified Staff Member of the Year. Barbosa, who currently serves as the school’s bookkeeper, has been with Dalton Public Schools for more than 20 years, bringing consistency, compassion, and leadership to every role she has held.
Barbosa began her career with Dalton Public Schools in 2004 at Park Creek Elementary as a data entry clerk. Over the years, she has served in several roles including attendance clerk and counselor secretary at Dalton High School, and bookkeeper at both Morris Innovative High School and The Dalton Academy. She has been part of The Dalton Academy since it opened in 2021, where she has played a vital role in supporting students, staff, and administrators.
Known for her dedication and steady presence, Barbosa describes herself as someone who strives to bring consistency, organization, and emotional support to the school community each day. “Since we opened TDA, I have tried to be the person who others could depend on consistently,” she shared. “I’m the only one who was here then, is here now, and hopefully I’ll be here for many years to come. I always try to be that consistent voice that brings love and kindness to our building each day.”
Her leadership has been a source of inspiration for colleagues, with many looking to her as a role model. Reflecting on her journey, Barbosa said, “One moment that deeply impacted me was when the young woman working at the front office told me I had inspired her to become a bookkeeper—she said she wanted to be just like me. I smiled and told her, ‘No, you’re going to be better than me.’ That conversation reminded me that leadership isn’t just about doing a job—it’s about how we carry ourselves, how we treat others, and how we lift people up along the way.”
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Barbosa actively contributes to her school and the wider Dalton community. She regularly volunteers at school events, serves in her local church as a Bible teacher, and alongside her husband—who is also a pastor—organizes family-centered retreats and activities to strengthen relationships.
Being chosen for this honor, Barbosa says, is deeply meaningful. “Being chosen as the Classified Staff of the Year has been a tremendous blessing and a true honor. It reminds me that the work I do matters—and that I’m making a difference in someone’s life. I see myself as a leader who strives to inspire and uplift my co-workers to be their best in everything they do.”
Dalton Public Schools congratulates Jessica Barbosa on this well-deserved recognition and thanks her for her years of dedicated service to students, staff, and the Dalton community.