Beth Barrette, D.Ed., Assistant Professor in the School of Education and Human Services (SEHS) at the University of St. Thomas and Director of Consortia Relations, Pragmatic and BAAS Studies, has been a Houston-based educator, tutor, and strategic planner with over thirty years of experience in multiple arenas including special education, health care, environmental planning, and technology management. She holds both a BA in Plan II with Special Honors and an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin, and an EdD from the University of St. Thomas. She will complete her MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with the University of St. Thomas in December 2026 and then plans to complete her PhD in Special Education with Texas Woman’s University (anticipated graduation date: May 2028).
Dr. Barrette’s experience in education took root in her graduate studies and continues to present day. She began her career in database design and financial software customization, yet her head and heart always returned to the classroom. Here’s how she has described this journey:
“I loved training users and helping them overcome technology fears. A serendipitous opportunity—a “God thing”—led me into the classroom, where I knew I belonged. My priority is creating supportive learning environments that promote both critical thinking and confidence. Some of my most rewarding moments come from helping struggling students ‘turn on the light bulb’ and find joy in learning for a lifetime.”
Upon completing an overseas database development consulting assignment, she taught for four years at Houston’s St. Agnes Academy (a Dominican high school for young women) and subsequently established a private tutoring firm. Her tutoring practice included numerous private clients and extended to both public and private schools in the Houston area including multiple Catholic schools. She has extensive experience working with neurodiverse children and is deeply committed to creating individualized, strengths-based learning environments that support diverse cognitive, social, and learning profiles.
Dr. Barrette’s particular expertise is in creating and presenting intricate concepts in clear, meaningful ways, often tailoring media and technology tools appropriate to her students’ needs with a special emphasis on customized curricula and alternative learning methods. Her primary focus is to assist each student in discovering an individualized and effective approach to studying the subject matter at hand—to help them learn how to learn and, hopefully, to learn to love learning in the process. She has helped many students achieve their dream of entering college yet feels it a true achievement if they have simultaneously discovered a joy in learning.
Dr. Barrette is an enthusiastic member of the SEHS team captained by Dr. Ana-Lisa Gonzalez and is dedicated to helping nurture the university’s Catholic mission within the SEHS’s recently updated programs. Since their inception, Dr. Barrette has worked with and taught in the University of St. Thomas’s Pragmatic Studies and Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS), contributing to their development and ongoing growth. She also teaches courses in the undergraduate education, M.Ed. and Ed.D. programs, an opportunity she has treasured since 2019. Beyond her academic and professional work, she is married to her husband, Jim, also a dedicated supporter of education. They enjoy volunteering, including active involvement in church-related ministries, as well as traveling, movies, fine arts, cooking, skiing, yoga, tai chi, and caring for their beloved family and pets.
