The brilliant Mrs. Samantha Baratta is the newest addition to St. Dominic High School’s staff. Beginning in the second semester and continuing through the end of the school year, Mrs. Baratta will teach physical science and earth science.

Mrs. Baratta graduated from St. Dominic in 2014 as the class valedictorian. As a student, she participated in theater, Mathletes, Ambassadors, and NHS. Mrs. Baratta earned a degree from Missouri S&T in ceramic engineering; however, she found her job in this field unfulfilling. Always having loved school herself, Mrs. Baratta determined that God was calling her back to the classroom—this time as a teacher.

“Money can’t buy happiness. I had… a prestigious degree and a ‘good’, impressive job, and it really didn’t matter because I was so miserable doing it, that it really wouldn’t have mattered what the paycheck was. … it really is important to do what God is calling you to do and to search for that purpose,” Mrs. Baratta said.

Mrs. Baratta previously taught AP chemistry, AP physics, and a course that she created called faith, science, and reason at Fr. Tolton Catholic High School in Columbia, Missouri.

“I love that it [teaching] is something important and worthwhile to do and fun every day to share things that I like talking about,” Mrs. Baratta said.

She found chemistry to be the most enjoyable to learn as a student and liked teaching it, but Mrs. Baratta was particularly fond of the labs and activities involved with teaching physics.

Her best-loved class, though, was faith, science, and reason, which explored the relationship between science and religion. Finding teaching to be something truly meaningful, Mrs. Baratta taught at Fr. Tolton for six years and was a beloved teacher.

“You are such an intelligent person and I am so lucky to have you as a teacher. … You made labs interesting and you made the year fun. … I liked your class because I knew you wanted us to succeed,” Mrs. Baratta’s former AP chemistry student Jayden Berrey said.

Mrs. Baratta had a great experience attending St. Dominic, and she is happy to be returning as a teacher. She appreciates the Catholic environment and is especially thrilled because her sister is a current senior at the school.

Grateful for the newest addition to the teaching team, St. Dominic extends its warmest welcome to Mrs. Baratta.