­­­­­­­­­­­Barbara Gerber found her passion early in life: words. She became a teacher so she could share that passion.

“I love helping students express themselves,” she said. As a teacher of journalism and AP English (both Language and Composition and Literature and Composition), Ms. Gerber says she spends most of her time supporting young writers. “Writing is so powerful,” she explained. “To be able to elucidate a message, or control a narrative, is tremendous.”

Originally from Seaford, New York, Ms. Gerber earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University in 1987. She moved to Santa Fe shortly after.

After working in the natural foods industry and as a freelance writer—her work has appeared in many local and national publications—she began teaching in 2003. She taught a few courses at Santa Fe Community College and then spent three years at DeVargas Middle School. She transferred to Santa Fe High in 2007, which she says is her perfect niche.

“This place is my home,” she said, adding that she earned her National Board certification in 2010.

Words continue to define Ms. Gerber’s life. Her first novel, Love and Death in a Perfect World, published in July 2015, was a 2019 finalist for the Eric Hoffer Montaigne Medal for “Most Thought-provoking Book.” (The book is available on Amazon.)

In her free time, Ms. Gerber plays saxophone in the Santa Fe Concert Band and also in the duo Saxophonic.

Ms. Gerber and her husband have two grown children, Nick and Maggie. In addition to spending time with family and friends, Ms. Gerber enjoys good books, music, the outdoors, and all things funny. She also really, really loves cats. And chocolate.

(Photo by Maggie Gerber.)