Publications

Indy Kids Winning, formerly known as Indy K12 & Indy/Ed, is an education publication in Indiana. I currently serve as the Editor-in-Chief and a writer for this publication. Click here to read my work.

Other Published Work

1/22/2020MediumWhy ‘In God We Trust’ Signs in Every Classroom is a Bad Idea
12/31/2019Citizen EducationReal New Year’s Resolutions from a Black Female Educator
12/17/2019Education PostThe Week Before Winter Break Doesn’t Have to be a Nightmare (originally published by Indy K12)
12/5/2019Families of MultiplesSeparate Classes or Same Class – Which Option is Best?
12/2/2019Education PostThese Students Let Their Textbook Publisher Know Nobody ‘Needed’ Slavery (originally published by Indy K12)
11/15/2019Education PostUsing Chosen Names and Pronouns for Students is Important (originally published by Indy K12)
10/18/2019Education Post4 Tips for Parents to Get the Most out of Parent/Teacher Conferences (originally published by Indy K12)
10/2/2019Safer Campus LifeWhen Your Child Becomes a Victim of Bullying (originally published by Indy K12)
9/23/2019Education PostIf We Don’t Give Students the Freedom to Choose What They Read, They Might Not Choose to Read at All (originally published by Indy K12)
7/12/2019Education PostHere are 8 Things that Make a Good School (originally published by Indy K12)
3/26/2019The 74: Keeping It 100Let’s Not Forget Native American Students When Speaking Up for Underserved Students of Color
3/16/2019One Voice Blog MagazineMy Calling as an Educator and an Advocate
3/15/2019The Phoenix SoulShawnta S. Barnes: Artist Profile
1/16/2019The 74: Keeping It 100Barnes: Changing School Start Times Detracts from More Pressing Issues and Poses Serious Challenges for Some Families
11/27/2018The 74: Keeping It 100Barnes: Indianapolis Consolidated Everything But Its Schools – Leaving 11 Different Districts Where Black Children Are Often Left Behind
11/13/2018Education PostI’m a Teacher and I Stopped Saying the Pledge of Allegiance a Long Time Ago
9/17/2018dfree Podcast: In the BlackEpisode 50: In the Black with Jermaine and Shawnta Barnes
9/10/2018One Voice Blog MagazineWas School Integration a Blessing or a Curse?
9/9/2018Truth for Teachers PodcastWhy great teachers get saddled with the biggest workload (and how to advocate for yourself)
8/6/2018Education Post4 Things Every Parent Needs to Prepare Their Kids for This Year (originally published on Indy K12)
7/15/2018The Phoenix SoulUrban Gardening
5/2/2018The CeruroveImmigration and Customs Enforcement
1/24/2018Education PostWant More Diverse Schools?  Try School Choice.
6/26/2017CBS4 ReadsGuest Reader:  The Emperor’s New Suit (Video)
11/21/2017Education PostMy Principal Saw I Needed Compassion Not Punishment, and That Made All the Difference
7/21/2017Black Press USAI Worked on Indiana’s ESSA Plan.  This Is What I Learned.
7/3/2017Second Line Education BlogWhat, to a Slave Descendant, is your 4th of July?
6/28/2017Good School HuntingWe Strap Roller Skates on Their Feet and Push Parents Out the Door
6/1/2017The Phoenix SoulGoing Home
5/30/2017Fifty Word StoriesICE
5/10/2017The Kitchen CommunityLearning and Gardening in School
4/12/2017Huffington PostWhose Responsibility Is It?
3/9/2017Memphis K12School Choice Vs. No Choice:  The Flaws with Betsy DeVos’ Thoughts on HBCUs
2/14/2017Huffington PostWe are Black Educators So Why Do You Only See Us as Disciplinarians?
12/1/2016Words and Other Wild Things – Brick Street PoetryBusy Busy Bee
11/15/2016The Phoenix SoulWhen I Knew He Truly Loved Me
9/22/2016MusedMint Tea at Dusk
8/30/2016Fifty Word StoriesGone Too Soon
8/25/2016Word DanceProgress
8/21/2016Whirlwind MagazineA Villanelle – Life at My Falling School
7/1/2016TWINS MagazineFocus on Me Not We:  Five Tips to Advocate for Your Children’s Education
6/27/2016Huffington PostKnow My Name; Know Me
5/5/2016Chalkbeat IndianaMy story:  ‘Even though I didn’t see my dad except on Saturdays…I felt his presence’
4/26/2016Indianapolis RecorderWhy I Do This Work

I am also a former editor and writer for The Educator’s Room is a publication where educators are empowered as the experts in education. Below, you can see the pieces I wrote for the publication.

9/24/2019Five Ways to Brighten the School DayPDFURL
9/4/2019Don’t Blindly Follow Edu-CelebritiesPDFURL
8/3/2019Veteran Teachers Need Choice & Customized Professional DevelopmentPDFURL
6/27/2019Five Gems of Knowledge I Learned at the Annual Teacher Self-Care ConferencePDFURL
5/29/2019Copyright Violations in the Classroom: When Beg, Borrow, and Steal Turns into a CrimePDFURL
3/7/2019Silent Compliance, Not Honesty is Wanted in EducationPDFURL
2/10/2019Why School Father & Daughter Dances are AntiquatedPDFURL
1/14/2019Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Should Not be an Inclement Weather DayPDFURL
12/21/2018Teacher Attendance Does Matter, but I Still Unapologetically Take Off Days at My SchoolPDFURL
12/19/2018It’s the Most Stressful Time of the Year – A Teacher’s EditionPDFURL
12/13/2018The 10 Car Rider CommandmentsPDFURL
11/18/2018Are You a Ticking Time Bomb in The Classroom?PDFURL
10/10/2018A Conversation with Dr. Jeff Butts, 2019 Indiana Superintendent of the YearPDFURL
9/23/20183 Reasons to Burn Reading LogsPDFURL
9/16/2018Social Media: Should You Friend and Follow Your Colleagues?PDFURL
8/10/2018What Teachers Get Versus What They NeedPDFURL
7/21/2018Why I Took My Work Email App Off of My Cell PhonePDFURL
7/17/2018If You Want to Survive, Find Your Teacher TribePDFURL
7/16/2018This teacher says, “Your momma needs to talk to me not through you.”PDFURL
6/30/2018Teachers, Don’t Spend All Summer in PD; Practice Some Self-CarePDFURL
5/27/2018The Hidden Struggles of being a Teacher of ColorPDFURL
5/5/2018Your Gradebook Should Not be a Punishment ToolPDFURL
4/19/2018Are Elementary Teachers Jacks of All Trade or Masters of None?PDFURL
3/6/2018Coaching Displaced TeachersPDFURL
3/3/2018Are the Kids Alright?  Student Reflections on School ShootingsPDFURL
2/4/2018Reflection:  World Hijab Day and TeachingPDFURL
2/4/2018Where’s Waldo?  The Case of the Missing PrincipalPDFURL
1/14/2018Extinguish the Flame and Stop Burning the Midnight OilPDFURL
1/7/2018Is 2018 the Year for You to Teach at a New School?PDFURL
1/3/2018Despite the Teacher Shortage, Some Teachers Need to be Coached out of the ProfessionPDFURL
12/17/2017#Me Too – When Students Sexually Harass TeachersPDFURL
12/3/2017Dear Administrators:  Don’t Move Ineffective Teachers to a Lower Grade; Help Them ImprovePDFURL