Dr. Marilyn Barnett, Principal

Dr. Marilyn Barnett, Imani Christian Academy's Principal, knew ever since she was a child that she wanted to teach.  She said, "I always enjoyed being front and center"as she reflected on the times in her youth when she would pull the children in the neighborhood together and teach to them on the steps of her house.

For Dr. Barnett, teaching was easy.  That’s because she is passionate about education.

Dr. Barnett spent thirty years of her career with the Pittsburgh Public School District, five years with Woodland Hills School District, one year with Seton Hill University and has consulted with the University of Pittsburgh.  She is currently the Vice Chair of the Board for the Urban League Charter School, where she is an active member of the design team.

When questioned about the goal for Imani Christian Academy, she declares its "embracing each child, transforming him or her and sending them into society with a purpose and an attitude to be successful."

To accomplish this goal, Dr. Barnett says Imani must create an agenda that addresses both long and short terms goals. The long term goals include: fiscal responsibility, community involvement, continued selection of teachers with a genuine ministry in education, develop a culture of our own for others to follow, increase the selection of electives (so we can offer more to our students), plan for an increase in student enrollment to between 600 to 700, and enhance our technology.

She also has a list of short-term goals, including: to make sure we have a clearly articulated curriculum, enhanced staff development throughout the school, fiscal responsibility and establishing individualized student portfolios, which detail information about each student, such as their interests, abilities, etc., not just their grades and attendance.  

Also a member of the Homewood Roundtable, a community program composed of concerned people in Homewood seeking change, Dr. Barnett is searching for the formula for effective teaching.  In this quest, she attends conferences and workshops.  She constantly networks with educators, communities, and parents and brings what she learns back to Imani.  She has found that working with the Imani faculty and staff has been a unique experience because of the willingness of everyone to learn and to try new ways of doing their work.    

A passion of Dr. Barnett's is bonding with Imani parents. She states that this bonding takes precedence for her, because she sees parents as their child's first teacher, and they need to be involved in their elementary and secondary education.  "The school and the parents must become partners in the education of our students" she says. She is working closely with our parents group to help parents become more active and engaged with the school.

Dr. Barnett has a Bachelors Degree from Morgan State University and a Masters Degree and Ph.D. in Administration and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a certified secondary and elementary school principal and has her Letter of Eligibility to be a school superintendent.  She also worked for over 30 years with Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.

Dr. Barnett calls herself "life-long learner", and that's the mark of a true teacher and leader.

"Imani is truly blessed to have Dr. Barnett as our Principal," says Elder Milton Raiford, Imani's Headmaster, "She brings a wealth of education, amazing energy and a spiritual presence to the school. With her here, Imani is poised to do great things."