Barbara Bartnek Waves Goodbye

For 21 years, Barbara Bartnek has been instrumental in keeping T.C. organized. She began working as a receptionist in the main office, doing reams of paperwork. But her greatest contribution has been in the years she has spent as assistant to the Athletic Director. By juggling buses, ticket sales, and thousands of phone calls, Bartnek has certainly put T.C. Williams in her debt. But she’s not sticking around to collect; this month is Bartnek’s last at T.C.

“I’m a very organized person, even in my personal life,” said Bartnek, who spends much of the workday behind a desk in a padded swivel chair. Bartnek started working clerical jobs right out of high school, and the experience helped her land a job in 1988 in the main office. Three years later she moved into the A.D.’s office and has been keeping T.C. athletics going ever since.

It is not an easy job by any means: T.C. fields 17 sports, many of which have multiple teams with unpredictable schedules that can depend on weather as much as results. Imagine trying to do a math problem with the numbers constantly changing. “The most stressful times are the transitions between seasons….” said Bartnek.

However, it is not the stressful season transitions or long planning meetings that the athletes of T.C. will remember Bartnek for. As Assistant Athletic Director Bob Eavenson told Theogony, “She’s always looking out for the students first.” Keeping an open relationship with students has been a high point for Bartnek. She says she enjoys it when she’s able to match a face to a name she has seen on rosters, or when a former T.C. player pops his or her head into the office. “The students are definitely my favorite part of this job,” said Bartnek. She does not only enjoy seeing them succeed on the court or on the field, but also in the classroom, and helps them be successful by making sure they know and understand academic eligibility requirements.

It’s no surprise that no replacement has been named yet. It will be difficult to find someone who can fill Bartnek’s well worn shoes when she moves to Queen Creek, Arizona later this year. “She’s been extremely dedicated and very knowledgable,” said Eavenson. But Bartnek will definitely take memories of T.C. with her to the west, including her most cherished: watching T.C. Williams basketball win the state title in 2008. A farewell reception was held for Bartnek on September 30.