Jay L. Barrett is principal at AmTech Career Academy, a nationally recognized award-winning campus in Amarillo Independent School District (AISD).

Barrett was appointed on June 15, 2015 to fill an unexpired two-year term on the AC Board of Regents, a term of service extending through April of 2017.

In May of 2017, he won election to the board for a six-year term in a field of nine candidates. He won re-election to the Board in May of 2023 and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the AC Board of Regents.

Barrett is no stranger to public service.  He presently is Chairman of the statewide Community College Association of Texas Trustees and is on the Board of Directors of the Panhandle Workforce Development Board.  He also serves as a deacon of First Baptist Church in Amarillo and is Vice-President of the Board of Directors of Maverick Boys and Girls Club of Amarillo.

Barrett was recently named 2023 Citizen on the Move for the City of Amarillo and was the winner of the 2022 Tech and Learning Magazine's Leadership Award, was HEB Secondary Principal of the Year for the North Texas Region in 2019, and was winner of the Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator Award presented by Boys Scouts in 2019.

Barrett's wife, Pam, is Director of Library and Information Resources for Amarillo ISD. Both have been a part of Amarillo ISD for 33 years.