Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994                   TAG: 9406020163
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TEACHERS ANSWER TO `MOM,' `DAD'

The William Byrd honor graduate has endured double trouble. Her mom, Joy Barnard, teaches English at Byrd. Paul Barnard, her dad, is a physical education instructor.

Ginger Barnard uses the word "trouble" to describe trying not to land in a course taught by either parent. When she found out she was enrolled in her dad's P.E. class, there were some quick schedule changes.

"I don't know who went to the office quicker," she joked.

Later, when Barnard found it impossible to transfer out of her mom's English class, Mom changed her teaching schedule.

Still, the presence of two parents at school each day has its price.

"You can't get into trouble, that's for sure," Ginger said. "They can really check up on you." In keeping with family tradition, she leaves for Virginia Tech this fall - possibly to become a teacher.

Rachel Allen, one of Byrd's two valedictorians, didn't mind taking a WordPerfect course from her mom.

"It was kind of fun," she said.

Allen's mom, Judy Perry, teaches business at Byrd.

Bethany Catron also sampled her mom's teaching. The honor graduate took a biology course taught by Linda Catron.

"My mom treated me the same way as any other person in the class," said Bethany, who once slipped up and called her teacher Mom during class.

"There was some laughing over that."

Leigh Ann Layman, whose mom, Judy Layman, teaches math, says teasing by other students has been a regular part of her high school experience.

"I've had some say the Top 10 was rigged," said Leigh Ann, who graduates ninth in her class. But, she addes, "I love going to school where my mom teaches. I know that she is there if there is a problem."

Leigh Ann began school with an advantage. "I was familiar with the school because I'd visited my mom there many times, and I knew many of the teachers through my mom, also."

Honor graduate Kelly Osborne hasn't worried about encountering her mom, Barbara Ellis, very often during school hours. Ellis teaches mentally handicapped students.

But they are together after school: Osborne is a cheerleader, Mom is a cheerleading coach.

Senior class sponsor Susan Prewitt says it's unusual to have so many students whose parents are faculty members.

"Five daughters of faculty members - all honor graduates - that's special."