After a successful 26-year career at Moorestown Friends School, Gail Barna will retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year from her position as Middle and Upper School Computer Teacher.
“I’ve been working for a long time,” said Barna. “I feel I am at a good age where it is time to retire, but [I] will miss all of my wonderful students.”
Barna has treated her myriad roles, including computer teacher, service coordinator, and Upper School adviser, as more than a job, but rather as a deeply meaningful part of her life, taking the most pride in the growth of the computer science department.
Gail Barna working with her students. Photo from MFS SmugMug.
She recalled that “the diversity within the computer science department was slim” when she first came to MFS in 1998; however, through her encouragement for young girls to pursue careers in technology, she witnessed a significant increase in women and other diverse groups of students engaging with computer sciences. This improvement has been recognized with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award from the College Board three times in five years.
Though Barna is passionate about teaching computer science, Barna’s favorite part of her job, she said without hesitation, is “definitely [her] students, getting to know [them], and being able to watch them grow.”
Barna is known for her deep devotion to her students. “She’s generous, caring, loving, and a very compassionate person,” said Josh Carroll ’25. “It’s tough [to see her retire] because she’s such a great teacher, but she’s an even better person.”
Throughout her time at MFS, Barna has made a noticeable effort to connect with students on all levels. Alicia Leung ’24, one of Barna’s advisees, noted how Barna has been a sturdy support in her life, emphasizing the countless times she has thoughtfully checked in on Leung to ensure she was not overwhelmed or overworking herself.
Carroll added that Barna has cultivated a lively and welcoming learning environment in each of her classes. “She tries to make her classes feel like a family: everyone caring for each other, everyone watching over each other, and everyone uplifting each other. She kind of acts like the head of it all, like the mother, so it’s a really great learning environment to be in that is hard to find in other classrooms.”
While Barna is walking away from her official role as an MFS faculty member, her commitment to her students and the school’s success will endure as she plans to stay connected with students and engage with the school community through regular visits.
Looking ahead to retirement, she and her husband, Pete — who also plans to retire this year — envision their retirement with many more family moments, quality time with their grandson, and lots of traveling. Barna eagerly hopes to visit Italy and take a culinary tour to usher in the next chapter of her life.
