Barnes brings wealth of teaching and leadership experience to new role

Teacher Leader Advocate Will Head NBCT Network Efforts 

February 15, 2008
Contact: Alice Williams, awilliams@teachingquality.org    

Rhonda “Nikki” Barnes was the first Black classroom-based teacher in the state of Virginia to achieve National Board Certification. That considerable achievement has cemented her commitment to teaching quality and leadership. “I have always embraced a personal responsibility to strengthen our profession and improve student learning through the powerful process of National Board Certification,” said Ms. Barnes.

She possesses over 15 years experience as a classroom teacher and teacher leader advocating for quality public schools for America’s neediest children. She has taught in Washington State and Virginia. Her classroom experience includes teaching middle and high school English/Language Arts and English Language Learners in an elementary setting.

Ms. Barnes has also been engaged in an array of teacher leader activities at the district, state and national level. As the NBCT-in-Residence at the Center for Teacher Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University, she developed a National Board candidate support program and conducted research focusing on the needs and perceptions of teacher leaders. Also while at VCU, she worked with state education agencies and teacher leaders to study Virginia teacher quality standards.

As a senior staff member at the National Education Association, Ms. Barnes focused on increasing the number of minority candidates passing state teacher licensure exams and advancing legislation and policies that provide support and funding for high quality mentoring and induction programs. Her work included managing the million dollar-plus budget for the Tom Joyner Foundation/National Education Association grant program to seven historically black colleges and universities.

Her efforts to improve public schools include engaging multicultural community leaders at the national and state levels.

Ms. Barnes will bring her classroom accomplishments, mentoring experience, and bridge-building abilities to her role as leader of the emerging NBCT Leadership Initiative.