Classroom Conversations: Ms. Barrett and Leah
Ms. Avery Barrett is in her third year as United Middle Dana Avenue’s art teacher. Her presence is felt throughout the campus, as she is also the artist behind the large mural gracing the gymnasium hallway — an homage to Franklinton and Dana Ave. Bearcats — and the Manager of After-School Engagement.
Enter Leah. With Ms. Barrett as one of her coaches, the 7th-grader and her Dana Ave. Bearcat Volleyball Team took home the tournament championship trophy this past November, closing out a 13-0 season.
The two joined The Huddle to discuss winning big, art education, and ambitious goals.
The Huddle: Can you introduce yourselves, please?
Ms. Barrett: I’m Ms. Barrett, and I’m the art teacher at United Middle Dana Avenue! I have been here for three years. I chose to talk to Leah today because we’ve built a really great relationship through volleyball. She’s just a great person: funny, kind, and a distinguished honor roll member!
Leah: I’m Leah, and I’m in seventh grade!
Ms. Barrett: So, Leah, what’s your favorite thing about going to school here?
Leah: My favorite thing is talking with you at recess! [Both laughing]. I don’t think that counts! I’ll say, my sessions with my counselor. They’re great!
Leah: Why did you want to be an art teacher? Why art?
Ms. Barrett: I decided to be an art teacher when I was teaching at a summer camp during COVID. I went to school for theater. “Theater” shut down during the pandemic, and I realized how quickly my job could go [gesturing] poof! And just not exist anymore. Then, I went to a summer camp, and I was an assistant for a ceramics lab and a painting lab. I realized that I really loved teaching art and I really loved teaching art to middle schoolers specifically!
Leah, nodding: And why teaching in general?
Ms. Barrett: I love helping people! I love helping our community and just being here for all of our students.
Ms. Barrett: What has been your favorite memory from school this year?
Leah: Oh! Hmm, that’s hard! I don’t know. Spirit week?
Ms. Barrett: Spirit week? Not, like, the giant thing that’s in my classroom window?
Leah: Oh! Volleyball, actually. It was so funsies!
Ms. Barrett: Oh, volleyball!
[Ms. Barrett and Leah showed The Huddle the championship trophy that Ms. Barrett was referring to in her classroom window.]
Ms. Barrett: What was it like being part of the first team to ever win a championship at Dana Ave., Leah?
Leah: It was great! It was sad at the same time, though, because next year, the eighth graders are leaving me. We still get all these sixth graders, though!
Ms. Barrett: And they’re getting better!
Leah: What was your favorite part about coaching us?
Ms. Barrett: I love coaching volleyball because I get to see everybody grow. I also get to spend time with some of my favorite people after school! Also, there are always snacks involved—and just hanging out after school in a gym where shenanigans inevitably take place, and volleyballs being thrown and hitting people unintentionally!
Leah: As long as no coach’s glasses get hit off their heads from stray volleyballs!
Ms. Barrett, laughing: It’s just super fun. It’s great to also see students excel outside of school, including a student, like Leah, who excels very well academically — seeing them also excel in sports.
Ms. Barrett, joking: I guess I should ask you about my class! We can talk about the clay project, you liked that one! What was your favorite part?
Leah, laughing: Mine ate down! It ate.
[Ms. Barrett and Leah translate this Gen. Alpha slang: Leah’s clay creation was very good!]
Leah, continuing: It was low-key kind of fun. Making a seesaw shape was fun, different than making a simple circle or square.
Ms. Barrett, partially explaining to The Huddle: Yeah! We made tic-tac-toe boards. [To Leah] So, would that be the unit in my class that you enjoyed the most?
Leah: Yes!
Ms. Barrett: Why?
Leah: Honestly, because I don’t love art, in general. That unit was easier for me, and it was something with parts that I got to pick for myself.
Leah: What do you like about art? What’s your favorite kind of art?
Ms. Barrett: I love getting my hands dirty, which is really funny because I hate it when my classroom is dirty! But I love getting my hands on things and trying new things. I’m a very big crafty person, so I love random crats.
My favorite type of art is definitely painting. Being a trained oil painter, I spend a lot of time doing it, love it a lot, and won some awards. So, definitely my favorite!
Ms. Barrett: What’s your favorite academic subject?
Leah: Math because of Ms. Jenkins! She makes math easier!
Leah: What is your favorite thing about this school?
Ms. Barrett: My favorite thing about the school is definitely the community that we serve and definitely our students. I love our community and I love the students who are here. I love working with a smaller group of students, too, so I know every student personally.
Leah: What’s changed about this school since you started?
Ms. Barrett: The “flex” schedule for specials like art has changed every single year! Also, I’m the first art teacher at Dana Ave., so I feel like my content has also changed as I’ve grown as an educator… and we started winning in volleyball!
Ms. Barrett: What’s your dream? What do you want to be when you grow up, Leah?
Leah: A forensic psychologist.
Ms. Barrett: That’s so cool! Tell me more!
Leah: It’s just what my heart and mind follow. I feel like it’s something that just fits me, and I want to do it. It seems so cool.
Leah: What do you do outside of school? How do you relax?
Ms. Barrett: I relax by playing video games. I play my silly little farming game when I get home. I’ve been very into coloring lately — I love a good coloring book! And I attend a lot of Columbus Blue Jackets games!
The Huddle: What is one of your big goals for the rest of the school year?
Ms. Barrett: I think my main goal is to try and make the best of whatever situation is thrown at us! At least I can control what happens in my room; I can control the environment that I make, so my goal is to continue keeping that environment positive and making sure my students feel safe.
Leah: My goal is fewer referrals!
Ms. Barrett: Yes!
The Huddle: If you could say anything to the people in our community who support United Schools and make Specials and After-School Engagement possible, what would you each say?
Ms. Barrett: Our arts and after-school programs have really grown directly because of our donors. I’m very, very grateful, and I know the students are as well.
Leah: Like Ms. Barrett said, thank you so much! I’ve loved volleyball. Thank you; you’re great!
Not easily captured in a written interview are the organic laughter, knowing glances, and supportive nods that flow between Ms. Barrett and Leah. Watching the two interact reveals the kind of strong, joyful rapport that is built through hard work from a student, high standards from a teacher, and a school culture of collaboration and connection. Thank you both for sitting with The Huddle and exemplifying the achievement, camaraderie, and ambition seen in the halls of United Schools.
Connection is a hallmark of United culture, and this is a glimpse into the dialogues that define our campuses.
