October, 2025
By Victoria Gutierrez Diaz, Staff Reporter
Honors chemistry teacher Ms. Barnett is a new face this year at KAC, bringing a calm yet energetic presence with a great love for her students. She has quickly connected with her classes through her humor and quirkiness. She describes herself as “goofy, sappy, and wears her heart on her sleeve.” Before being a teacher she was an environmental chemist.
I asked her why she became a teacher. “I was the second oldest and often had to take care of my younger siblings and tutor them,” she said. “I didn’t give much thought about being a teacher, but it was never a no.” She knows how to be responsible and understanding.
Having survived the first quarter, I asked her what she should do differently as the year goes on. “I would stop staying up so late,I need more sleep,” she said, which is relatable for most high school students.
You can definitely tell her love for chemistry is strong, but Barnett also has a love for geography. She said, laughing, that she made it to state for a geography topic test and was close to making it to nationals, but ultimately didn’t because she “didn’t remember the name of a river.”
And though she is an expert in chemistry, she has had some learning experiences in the lab. She said, ”One of my most ironic experiences would be accidentally mixing Mustard gas with another chemical, which I knew wasn’t good, so I was stuck.”
She laughed, “Now I had to clean up the mess all by myself, I remember telling my family and them telling me how dumb that was.”
Ms. Barnett’s personal life is also important to her. She often talks about her friends and how having a diverse friend group in different workforces is beneficial, and how this shapes you as a person. Outside of work, she likes to bake and scroll on TikTok. She also has three domesticated pet rats named Hubie, King Dedede, and Kirby. She has brought Hubie to school since he’s the youngest and smallest one. It’s unusual but she has so much unconditional love for them.
Her students appreciate her attitude and her understanding. 10th-grader Jade Vasquez said, “It’s rare for me to feel comfortable in a class, but Ms.Barnett is actually chill. She understands me even on days when I feel down and not in the most talkative mood, and just need a break.”
10th-grader Jorge Mena-Hernandez also said, “I think she was made to be a teacher, although, in my opinion, it’s one of the hardest professions. She makes sure everyone feels included and accepted. Her aura fills up the classroom. I hope she never second-guesses herself.”
Most of all, though, Ms. Barnett is a successful teacher because she relates to her students. She understands that we can have our ups and downs and recognizes that we should have breaks and that high school means figuring out who you are for the future.
“I love you guys I think you should have a teacher that understands each one of y’all. I was in high school once and I know having a teacher like that creates a positive environment and was also helpful to me.”
The Cardinal Post 