by Shanon Weaver
“Oh, I’m not sure my life’s all that interesting,” Deneise Barrett said to me at the start of our conversation.
Having written for this magazine for nearly a decade, I absolutely love hearing this – it usually means I’m about to hear a very interesting story.
Growing up in Atlanta, a small town in northeast Texas, Deneise's early years were spent with her grandparents after her biological parents' divorce. She remained with them during her formative years until her mother remarried, and they all moved to an Air Force base in England with her new Stepfather.
Adjusting to this new life at the age of 12 was no small feat. It was a challenge for her, moving across the ocean and living with a stepfather she hardly knew. The experience forced her out of her comfort zone, as she navigated high school life far from her childhood home.
"I had never lived anywhere but in Atlanta," Deneise said. "We had to be bused to a high school because not all the bases had high schools. So we left on Monday mornings, stayed in the dorm, then came back on Friday."
During her time in Europe, Deneise Barrett found herself torn between adventure and reluctance. While her mother eagerly traveled to nine different countries, Deneise often chose to stay behind, preferring the familiarity of home and the company of friends.
However, Deneise did find her way to London several times, thanks to a local teen club that organized outings for young people. It was during one of those visits that she attended The Jackson 5's first concert in England. Unbeknownst to her at the time, this concert, held in 1972, would become a cherished memory, intertwining her teenage experiences with the magic of a groundbreaking musical moment.
After high school, and back stateside, Deneise's path took another unconventional turn.
"I got married, had a child, got divorced, went to college. I did it backwards," she said with a laugh. "I was determined not to be a teacher, because everybody in my family were teachers…well, that's what I did for the next 42 years."
Despite her initial reluctance to follow in her family's teaching footsteps, she graduated from Henderson State University in 1979, armed with a degree and a determination to chart her own course.
With her mother teaching at Liberty-Eylau ISD in Texarkana, Deneise secured a position supervising high school students, setting the stage for her long-lasting career in education.
"It was supposed to be sort of like a study hall situation," she recalled, "and I was just kind of supervising them. It wasn't anything major, but at least I had employment."
Deneise's winding road through the education field led her to Dallas, where she encountered a diverse student population.
"The school was like a melting pot. It had 22 nationalities, and 17 languages represented."
It was during this time that she became involved with Destination Imagination, a program emphasizing creativity and teamwork among students.
"I worked with that program for almost 30 years," she said. "We made it to the state level about 9 or 10 times, and we only made it to Globals once.”
After 42 years in education, Deneise officially retired in 2024. She now travels extensively (having learned her lesson in Europe) and enjoys seeing up close the things she used to teach about – notably the Northern Lights and Iditarod in Alaska, and all the wonders of Italy and Greece.
Deneise offers heartfelt advice to our readers navigating life after 60.
"Get up and move!" she urges, highlighting the value of staying active and trying new hobbies, whether it's learning to play bridge or connecting with others.
She emphasizes the importance of seeking out experiences, be they local adventures or travel opportunities. She also reminds us that while money can be replenished, the moments we create in life are irreplaceable.
“Enjoy life! Keep going! Don't stop!”
Great advice, Deneise.
See…told you your life was interesting. Who wouldn’t want to see The Jackson 5 in England?
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