Dr. Melinda D. Barnett
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Class of 1990
Master of Education in Counseling and Development, Class of 1999
Doctor of Education, Class of 2013
| Dr. Melinda Barnett with her mentor, Professor Sandra Harris at her graduation in 2013! |
| Son, (George) Blake Barnett with Dr. Barnett, her father and her husband, when he graduated from Lamar University. | Dr. Barnett and her husband in Costa Rica (a member of her doctoral cohort (Dr. Michelle Yzquierdo) organized this trip for several members of the cohort after they earned their doctorates. |
Dr. Barnett with her staff shortly before she retired as
Director of Educator Certification at Region 5 ESC in 2016
‘It was around 1988, when I decided to go back and finish my degree. I live in Beaumont and it was convenient to go to Lamar. Not only did it help my career, but the acquaintances that I made, the closeness with the professors. I was 30 years old and I had been out of school 10 years. When I went to get my bachelor’s and was not a strong Math student, Dr. Joseph A. Baj was a professor that I had taken. Dr. Baj tutored me for one hour every day for three semesters. I would not be here today had it not been for Dr. Baj. I went to his funeral. He was just one of the best. There are plenty like that, but he took special care to help me achieve what I felt was insurmountable at that time. It was through his care and tutoring and special individual attention he gave that made me the person I am today. I would like to mention Dr. Sandra Harris. Dr. Harris showed me not just the kind of professor but the kind of woman that can help others. Because of how she treated me and all of the team and her respect and professionalism, she showed me ways that I ended up treating others when I was in leadership positions. She just helped me be a better leader. I just reached out to her a couple of weeks back to say thank you. I graduated in 2013. She had made that big of an impact that I just had to reach out to her, 10 years later.’
‘I developed lifelong friendships. Dr. Susan Caffery who is now a headmaster in the Woodlands, we got our master’s together. She went on and got her doctorate before I did. Dr. Stuart Kieschnick and Dr. Donna Fong, we got our doctorates together. We have supper at least twice a year. We end up being good friends and lifelong friends.’