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Meet Donielle Barnett, MEd ’26
Donielle Barnett, MEd ’26, sat down with us to talk about her experience earning her master’s degree in early childhood education. She shares some of her most important takeaways from the program, including what she learned about how teaching school-age children is different from teaching in an early childhood classroom.
ICD: Tell us a bit about the path that brought you to this moment of earning your MEd and exploring the world of elementary education.
DB: I’m originally from Waldorf, Maryland, and in 2022 I received my bachelor of science degree in psychology with a concentration in counseling from Morgan State University, an HBCU. After graduating from college, I was looking for a change of pace. My fiance’s family lives in Minnesota, and they encouraged us to come out here and see what it was like. We moved here, and I got a job at the child care center where I still work. My mom used to have a family child care program, so I was raised around young kids my whole life. My coworkers at the center told me, “You’re good at this. You should go back and get your teaching license.”
I ended up applying for the master of education in early childhood education, but my track was a little different from some of my peers, because I didn’t originally have a bachelor’s in education. So I was in the MEd program for three years as opposed to one year. I’m currently applying for a license to teach kindergarten through third grade. I had never taught in an elementary school setting before this past year of student teaching, and I would really like to teach in a public school and join my district’s teachers’ union. I would also like to become involved with early childhood advocacy, with a focus on advocating for early childhood teachers to get paid more and get the educational opportunities they need.
Donielle celebrates ICD's newest graduates at the 2026 Commencement ceremony.
Photo courtesy of Donielle Barnett
What was the student teaching experience like?
DB: I did student teaching at the Child Development Laboratory School (CDLS) for one semester. Honestly, for me it was a big culture shock! I’m not used to being that cold and for kids to be out in those temperatures! I didn’t have snow gear; I bought my first pair of snow boots. But the way [CDLS Director] Sheila [Williams Ridge] teaches kids appreciation for nature was really refreshing. Sometimes we see nature as being full of pests, but Sheila showed me that we’re all part of a community.
This year, I taught at a public school in Eden Prairie from the beginning of the school year to March. Then I taught at public school in Minneapolis through the end of the school year. So the program included multiple semesters of student teaching.
How is teaching kindergarten through third grade different from teaching in an early childhood classroom?
DB: Teaching kindergarten through third grade is very different, because it’s more hands-off. In early childhood, you are helping children every step of the way, while still taking a step back to see what they can do on their own. In elementary education, you are observing from a distance, and you jump in to assist when students need your help. That was a big adjustment for me. I think it’s really cool to see how teachers are still able to have those deep, meaningful relationships with elementary-age kids, even though the practice itself is less hands-on.
Which courses or professors were the most impactful for you in the MEd program?
DB: [Instructor] Mariane Batista-McCulloch really opened my eyes to ways that we as teachers can do more for multilingual students and can connect their home lives to their education. She showed us how in the classroom some multilingual students don’t feel like they have any advantages at all. How can we show them their home language is an advantage?
[ICD Director of Undergraduate Studies for Early Childhood] Elizabeth Criswell taught us a lot about special education, especially in early childhood. She brought speakers into the classroom and told us about Think Small and what that organization does. Young children may not be able to get the resources they need right away, so Elizabeth really opened my eyes to more that I can do as a teacher.
What would you tell a prospective student who is interested in pursuing an MEd?
DB: This program is a great place to be yourself while still figuring out who you are as a teacher. I know especially for women of color, we have a hard time feeling like we belong in some spaces. But this program offers a lot of support. Just this year, we had a diversity cohort which was really impactful. I made what I would consider to be lifelong friends, and I became part of a teacher community I didn’t know I had before.
Also, Addy has been my biggest support system at the U. She has been somebody who I can always lean on and look to. She’s just the best. I lost a maternal figure during school, which was really tough. I don’t think I would have been able to do school, or do as well as I did, without Addy.
About the scholarships that helped with your tuition, what would you want a donor to know about the difference that their gift made?
DB: Their contributions honestly helped me more than they can know. I received scholarships designed to help teachers; some I applied to, and others I was considered for automatically through the program application. I worked full time throughout the program. Having scholarship support helped me afford gas and groceries, so that support really went a lot further than just tuition. It lightened the load.
So you worked full time and went to school full time?
DB: Yes! I always said, “If I”m not in class, I’m at work. If I'm not at work, I’m in class.”
What are you most looking forward to in your next chapter as you continue your career as an educator?
DB: I think, for myself, the most exciting thing is showing kids you don’t have to have the best upbringing to be somebody. In my community, growing up, we were told a lot that sports are a way to make something for yourself. But I’m excited to show students that there are other options. You can go to school. You can go to college. There are other pathways out there for you.