Billy Chapman

Leslie Barnette, former educator and school board member, died Tuesday morning, according to Catawba County Schools.

Barnette, 73, was a member of the Catawba County Schools Board of Education until Aug. 25. A letter read by board Chair Tim Settlemyre at the Monday, Aug. 25, board meeting said Barnette was resigning from the board due to her health.

Barnette was first elected to the board in 2018. She was in her second term as a board member.

Before serving on the board of education, Barnette said, in her resignation letter, that she worked for 42 years in Catawba County Schools. She was an assistant teacher, teacher, assistant principal, principal and district-level administrator.

A native of Catawba County, Barnette was a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne University and earned

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