Olivia Wells is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Paradise Valley for AZPreps365.com. 

Many people have heard of Paradise Valley’s athletics, but not many know about the woman who holds it all together.

Karen Barnett is the Paradise Valley athletics clerk, but she is so much more than that to the program. She often is called the glue that holds PVUSD Athletics together as many rely on her for support and assistance.

Growing up in England, Barnett didn’t have an official athletics program in her school. “When I was in school, I was very athletic, I did all sorts of sports, but there’s no athletics like you do here after school,'' she said. "Your athletics is a P.E class. Coming here, it [athletics] is much bigger, bigger than I’d ever seen before, and I just think it is so important for the kids to be able to exercise and to learn team building and to watch them grow.”

Barnett loves seeing the passion that is put into athletics and how dedicated the students are to win and to improve at their sports.

Coming to work at Paradise Valley, she fell in love with the school. “I love it,'' Barnett said. "Everybody here is so empathetic. They really fight for the children, and the kids are our No. 1 priority at the end of the day.”

Barnett goes above and beyond to provide for the kids and will help them through everything from freshman year to beyond graduation. She truly loves the kids like they are her own.

Karen Barnett and her family. (Photo Courtesy: Karen Barnett)

Paradise Valley parent Deborah Muller says Barnett is “truly a special lady.” Recently, Muller’s daughter, Madeline, couldn’t play volleyball on her Senior Night due to coming in contact with someone who might have COVID-19. Madeline was crushed, but Barnett reached out to her with a heartfelt message.

“My heart is so sad for you tonight darling :( I may have cried a little tonight when they announced you but I know I would have had a tear in my eye if you had been here. You were so deserving to be here tonight and I am truly sorry you are not.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed watching you grow from the cute, happy, polite, slightly shy little freshmen first walking into my office to the still cute, happy, and polite, amazing confident young lady you are today.

"I wish you the very best in your future adventures after high school and I know you will succeed in everything you put your mind to. You are an inspiration to all of our students and staff.

"Don't forget to come say hi before you leave.

"Hugs Maddie

"Karen x”

“[Barnett] is an exceptional person!'' Muller said. "So kind, so competent, and so genuine. It was not necessary to do that at all, and yet she did. I teared up almost as much reading her kind words as I did when I found out Maddie was being sent home to quarantine.”

It just goes to show how dedicated Barnett is to students, and there are many more examples of her kindness and passion. She will do everything she can for students, to help them down the right path, and to support them through their games and practices as well as their academics.

Athletic director Brock Heykoop said he wouldn’t have applied for this job if it weren't for Barnett. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her,'' he said. "We have a history, her son played soccer for me, so her family and mine developed a relationship. She knows the boundaries of a parent, and she knows when she needs to be tough. She is very good at balancing that.”

Her dedication to the school and the students helped the program grow into the family it is today. No matter what, the last door to the left of the gym is always open for students, coaches and parents alike.

Barnett said: “I want them to know that I care about them a lot. My door is always open for them to come and talk to me, and I want them to always be positive, never give up and always be grateful. Keep striving and work hard, and always ask for help. Wherever you go, I’m always here.”

The athletics program at Paradise Valley would not be what it is today without Karen Barnett. “She is the motor of this department,” Heykoop said. “She is relentless in her pursuit of helping others. She is always getting things done, the little things that nobody wants to do, she gets them done. She also has the time to counsel kids and athletes on a daily basis. She’s the heart and soul of this department.”

And she’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Barnett said she’ll stay with this school “until they kick me out.” Barnett laughs, and Heykoop chimes in from the background. “Yeah, that probably won’t happen.”