by Trevor Hass
Sports Reporter
Barb Tucci had no idea a friendly tip from a colleague in 1979 would determine the entire trajectory of her career and, in many ways, her life.
At that time, she was working for Head Start in St. Cloud, but that guidance counselor told her the Elk River Area School District was hiring a social worker.
“I applied, and boom, here I am,” Tucci said, “36 years later.”
Tucci, a vibrant, bubbly woman who cares deeply about her job, started at Parker Elementary School later that year. She transitioned to Elk River High in 1983, and she’s been there ever since. She’ll retire at the end of this year, but not without feeling incredibly lucky to have done the work she did.
In 36 years here, Tucci has been through several ups and downs, and she’s grown close with kids who have needed her as they’ve experienced tragic events and personal struggles.
“It’s been an awesome ride for me,” Tucci said. “I just feel really fortunate to be able to have an impact on young people’s lives and help them face those challenges, cope and move on, and continue to strive for their dreams no matter what.”
Initially, Tucci didn’t expect to work in a school system, but she’s extremely grateful she did. She didn’t have a background in special education, so she had to learn about the proper teaching methods before and during her time in that role.
Tucci spent lots of time helping students with individualized education programs, and she grew comfortable in the position over time.
One thing that has amazed her is how much the Elk River community has grown over the years. It used to have a small-town feel, she said, and people would often sleep here and go into work in the Twin Cities. Now, a school district with what she calls “passionate” and “dedicated” employees is continuing to thrive, and the town around it is blossoming as well.
“With a growing community and district, the thing I’ve noticed the most is that the one thing that’s been pretty constant is the school district and their endeavor to service the kids in the community and meet their needs,” Tucci said.
Tucci emphasized that the kids she worked with don’t have a choice on several of the things that happen to them. Sometimes tragedies happen, and her job was to help ensure they handled those tragedies the best they could.
“It’s amazing how resilient students are, despite those challenges,” she said.
Tucci cherishes the relationships she’s been not only able to cultivate but to maintain over the years with students. She points out one student in particular whom she worked with when the student was in elementary school. Nearly a decade later, that student continually stopped in to see Tucci, even when she didn’t have to anymore.
That’s when she knows she’s really made a difference and connected with a student.
“When I think of where she was then and where she is now, mountains have moved,” Tucci said. “I can say that about a lot students.”
Suddenly, inside the Star News office in mid-May, Tucci is fighting back tears. Her job means that much to her. She’s thinking about seeing her students graduate one more time. One last time, in all likelihood.
She hopes to come back and substitute teach periodically, but this is certainly the end of an era for her. Tucci said she never considered working in a new district or switching careers. She’s always been content here, and she’s never had any desire to leave.
Now, though, she knows it’s time to move on, but she also knows she’ll stay close with many of her students.
“It’s good to be an Elk,” she said.