About Ms. Barnes

Keishana L. Barnes is an educator, wife, and mother based in the United States. Over the past 20 years, she has studied and worked in the field of education and has witnessed and experienced firsthand the frustrations that exist for many families, specifically for families of color, families who are living in poverty, and families of children with dis/abilities. After graduating with a double major in Special Education and Child Development from Vanderbilt University, she earned a master’s degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education where she focused on Risk and Prevention. Professionally, she has served as a classroom teacher in special education and general education, teacher mentor, administrator, and curriculum developer all while extensively and consistently endeavoring to improve educational outcomes for marginalized communities. 

Currently, Keishana works as a Special Education Assistant Professor of Teaching and Site Coordinator in the Instruction and Curriculum Leadership Department at the University of Memphis She is also pursuing a PhD in Educational Psychology and Research also at the University of Memphis. Her research interests include narrative inquiry, autoethnography, critical discourse analysis, school experiences of Intellectual Gifted children of color, self-advocacy in children, African American mothering, culturally sustaining pedagogy, creativity in teaching, and history of schools.

Keishana resides in Memphis, TN with her husband and three children.

Education

B.S., Special Education & Child Development, Vanderbilt University
Ed.M. Education, Risk & Prevention, Harvard University
Ph.D. Educational Psychology & Research, University of Memphis