On Friday, October 11, 2024, Pearl Sample Elementary School held a heartfelt tree dedication ceremony in memory of Kendra Barrett, a cherished school bus driver and Pearl Sample parent. Kendra, 36, passed away on July 24, 2024, after showing remarkable courage and strength during her fight against breast cancer. She is remembered for her dedication to her family, which includes her husband Jesse Barrett and their daughter Aspen, a current student at Pearl Sample Elementary.
The ceremony, organized collaboratively by Pearl Sample Elementary School and the Culpeper County Public Schools Transportation Department, was a touching tribute attended by Kendra's family, friends, colleagues, and the school community. Behind the podium stood a school bus adorned with a beautiful purple banner that read, “With Love Always,” symbolizing the love and admiration Kendra inspired among students and staff alike.
Pearl Sample Elementary Principal Dan Birch offered moving remarks, honoring Kendra’s contributions as both a parent and a bus driver. “Kendra as a bus driver was great.. She did a great job of meeting kids where they were and dealing with tough kids on the bus.,” Birch said. “She was also a great communicator and really helped us by always talking to parents and making it a team effort to support all her kids on the bus.”
Culpeper County Public Schools Transportation Director Steven Bagley, who also spoke during the ceremony, highlighted Kendra’s exceptional dedication to her role. “May this tree bring joy, peace, and comfort to everyone that may sit under her,” he said. “This tree embodies the expansive love that Kendra showed to all that encountered her.”
Music teacher Sean Mitchell played music for the ceremony. The tree planted in Kendra’s honor will serve as a lasting symbol of her impact on the Pearl Sample community and the love she leaves behind. The tree is a Seven Son Flower Tree. This tree originates from Japan and China. Kendra was of Japanese descent.
The dedication ceremony, a joint effort between the school and the transportation department, was a fitting tribute to Kendra's legacy of care, compassion, and service to the students and staff of Pearl Sample Elementary School. As it grows, the tree will be a lasting reminder of Kendra's presence, standing tall and strong just as she did for those she loved and served.
