{"id":2741,"date":"2026-06-08T04:34:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T04:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=2741"},"modified":"2026-06-08T04:34:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T04:34:25","slug":"cumberland-county-educator-transforms-theatre-arts-while-battling-blood-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=2741","title":{"rendered":"Cumberland County educator transforms theatre arts while battling blood cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) \u2014 Raqi Barnett teaches theatre arts at E.E. Smith High School in Cumberland County, where it all started with a small budget.\u00a0 <\/p>

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\u201cThey had like $230-something in the account, and the classes weren\u2019t filled,\u201d she said. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since then, she and her students have put on major productions, won competitions, been awarded grants, and formed a partnership with the Cape Fear Regional Theatre in Fayetteville. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have kids that come back from years ago, and they support the kids that are there now,\u201d Barnett said. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

And things have truly turned around since she arrived here in 2014. <\/p>\n

\u201cBeing in the scene shop was where my classroom was; now I have an actual classroom, scene shop, and an auditorium where I can rotate around and teach,\u201d Barnett said. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy: Raqi Barnett\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She was even named the 2025 North Carolina Theatre Arts Educator of the Year. But just months before receiving this prestigious recognition, she faced an unexpected, personal challenge offstage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was diagnosed with blood cancer last summer in June,\u201d Barnett said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She says her physicians are still trying to identify the type of blood cancer she is facing. And she says even though it is not curable, it is manageable.<\/p>

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\u201cAt times it\u2019s been difficult because I have never missed so much school,\u201d she said. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Barnett says she has to get weekly blood transfusions and chemo biweekly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy: Raqi Barnett\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s the treatment that has led her to slow down. <\/p>\n

\u201cI love to dance; I can\u2019t dance as I used to with all that energy, and I teach with energy,\u201d Barnett said. \u00a0<\/p>

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\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tNC Theater Arts Educator of Year fights blood cancer\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
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And she says she is thankful for her students, colleagues, friends, and family, along with her faith, for helping her navigate this journey. <\/p>\n

\u201cI thank God I have him in my life and that he\u2019s able to help me to get through this, and others to help me not to lose faith,\u201d Barnett said. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy: Raqi Barnett\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Barnett is still teaching throughout this journey and says she is thankful for her village for helping her continue her love of teaching.\u00a0\u00a0She also teaches modeling and dance. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

Read more UNC walks it off, returning to Omaha for College World Series: Tar Heels complete\u00a0Super Regional comeback<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — Raqi Barnett teaches theatre arts at E.E. Smith High School in Cumberland County, where it all started with a small budget.  “They had like $230-something in the account, and the classes weren’t filled,” she said.    Since then, she and her students have put on major productions, won competitions, been awarded […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nCumberland County educator transforms theatre arts while battling blood cancer - Raleigh Moving News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=2741\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cumberland County educator transforms theatre arts while battling blood cancer - Raleigh Moving News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. 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