Around Amherst: Barber-Just in running for Teacher of the Year By SCOTT MERZBACH AMHERST — An Amherst Regional High School English teacher who pioneered a class on gay and lesbian literature in the late 1990s is one of 11 semifinalists to be Massachusetts Teacher of the Year for 2022. Sara Barber-Just, the English Department’s chairwoman, was recently notified about the honor, and Superintendent Michael Morris informed the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee about the recognition. Morris called the decision “fantastic and well earned” and described Barber-Just as “a fabulous person,” noting she has been profiled in local and national publications for teaching the LGBTQ+ literature class and putting together the course curriculum.