Principal keeps her promise, rides a Harley

DOWNEY - Paula Barnes, principal of Rio San Gabriel Elementary, rode a motorcycle last Friday after students sold more than 1,000 books in the school's book fair.Barnes promised her 800-plus students she would ride on the back of a motorcycle if the kids reached the goal at the conclusion of the week-long fair. The students did their part. Last Friday, Barnes honored her promise and rode enthusiastically on the back of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as the students cheered and chanted "faster, faster!" Although Barnes had never ridden on a motorcycle before, she said she'd "rather ride a motorcycle than do any of the other suggestions made by the book fair chairperson." Suggestions declined by Barnes were eating a worm, dying her hair purple or getting slimed. The Rio San Gabriel PTA released a statement afterward praising the principal. "On behalf of the students and staff at Rio San Gabriel Elementary, thank you Mrs. Barnes for being an active, involved and caring principal," the statement said. "We are lucky to have her."

********** Published: April 26, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 02