Janet Barkawi was born in Minnesota in 1936. In 1943, she moved to Alhambra, California, with her family, and she remained in Southern California for the rest of her life. She earned a B.A. from University of California, Santa Barbara in 1958 and an M.A. from California State University, Fullerton in 1965. Janet loved to read and to keep up with politics and current affairs. She was a lifelong fan of John Wayne films and a patron of the theater and the performing arts. Janet was often spotted around town in her gold 1970 Camaro. She died near her home in Huntington Beach in 2023.

Janet taught history, psychology, and social studies at Fountain Valley High School in Orange County, California, for most of her career. Generations of students described her as a favorite teacher who changed their lives. She challenged all of her students to do their best, and supported them wholeheartedly.

Janet was heavily involved in Advanced Placement teaching and grading, both in Orange County and on the national level. She was GATE coordinator, and she was named Teacher of the Year. She loved to take her students on field trips. She looked out for her students and helped them out, often paying fees for AP tests when families could not afford the costs.

Throughout her career, Janet also taught evening courses in local community colleges. She was renowned for her super-fun course on the American West.

After retiring from Fountain Valley High School, Janet spent twenty years using her teaching expertise to mentor new teachers in the History/Social Science Credential program at Cal State Long Beach’s College of Education. Janet was a compassionate and rigorous mentor, traveling far and wide in Southern California to observe her student teachers in action and offer advice. Janet kept working until the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to stop.

The Janet Barkawi Endowed Award was established in her honor by her children Kasi Barkawi-Buck and Tarak Barkawi. The scholarship is offered through the Cal State-Long Beach College of Education, and hosted by the Cal State Long Beach 49er Foundation. The scholarship aims to carry on Janet’s legacy by supporting student teachers who demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need, with a preference for students who are committed to public service.