A Cobb County middle school teacher died while on vacation in Florida.

Mary Barkley died Monday after she was caught in a rip current while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, according to a letter sent to parents.

Barkley was a seventh-grade lead and life sciences teacher at Dodgen Middle School, where she taught for 16 years.

She also saved two lives as an organ donor, according to the letter.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Chairman Jason Shaw presides over a meeting of the Georgia Public Service Commission in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images