Mrs. Paulette N. Barnes was born in Waukegan and is a product of Waukegan Public Schools. Mrs. Barnes resided in the North Chicago, Waukegan, and Zion areas her entire life up until recently relocating to Texas. Her love of he Her love is reflected in the love she renders to her past and present students.

Paulette obtained her Bachelors of Arts from Northeastern Illinois in 2008, a Masters of Special Education in 2010 from Quincy Illinois University, and a Masters of Educational Leadership in 2020 from Concordia University. 

Mrs. Barnes has been in the public-school education field for 13 years, with 11 of those being spent in Waukegan Public Schools. She started her career with Waukegan Public Schools in 2009 at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, where she learned and thrived with her peers and, most importantly, her students as a Diverse Learners Teacher.  

In 2017, Mrs. Barnes took on the role of Culture and Climate Specialist/Dean. In this role, she has served at both Waukegan High School Washington Campus and A.O.E.C. Her professional experiences and development have demonstrated her ability to inspire, lead, and take the next journey in her career. Mrs. Paulette Barnes is thrilled to take on this new leadership experience and assist in the continued positive transformations occurring at Ridge Point High School. She looks forward to developing positive relationships with staff, students, parents, and the community to ensure high expectations for all stakeholders and that all students can achieve greatness. Mrs. Barnes’ love and passion for her students and her ability to provide A1 care for students will fit exceptionally well in her new role as Assistant Principal at Ridge Point High School.