Mandi (Pittman) Barnett

I have definitely taken a different path than I ever thought I would after high school.  After graduation, I spent four semesters at ICC, one semester at Northeast, and one semester to just basically have fun (which included a short six week stay in Austin, TX).  Upon my last year at ICC, I met my future husband in Booneville, MS, where he was a fireman.  After a very short six months together, we got married in March 2006. In July of the same year we moved to Memphis, TN. 

In Memphis, I continued my education at University of Memphis.  I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in English and a minor in Legal Thought.  Although I had strong aspirations of attending law school after undergrad, my plans were changed for the better as my husband and I had our first child, Lucas, in September 2008 (a mere three weeks after my college graduation). I decided to become a teacher after my son turned one because I knew that it would allow me to be at home with him more than other careers.  Teaching students has definitely taught me something.  It has become my passion and my calling.  I taught in Memphis City Schools while I worked on my Master’s degree.  My husband and I had our second child, Hailey, two months after I received my Master of Arts in Teaching from University of Memphis. 

For the past year, my family and I have been living in Panama City Beach, FL.  However, we are in the process of moving back to Tennessee in order for me to continue my calling as a teacher in inner city Memphis.  I am also currently working to complete my Masters in English from Morehead State University.

All in all, I could not be happier with where I have ended up in life.  I am married to the most wonderful man and have been blessed with two amazing children.  I have a career that is incredibly fulfilling, and each day is filled with surprises.