Dr. Barrett-Layne was born in Kinston, North Carolina and grew up in Uniondale Long Island where she completed her primary and secondary education. She attended and graduated from Glenmount Job Corp Center where she received certifications in medical assisting, nursing assisting, and EKG technology. It was through the Job Corp program that Dr. Barrett- Layne was able to enter college and complete undergraduate work at York College, Jamaica Queens in Community Health Education. After passing her exams, Dr. Barrett-Layne received certifications to teach in New York City and New York State public schools and began her teaching career in 1986.
Dr. Barrett-Layne continued her education and received her Master’s degree in Special Education and a post graduate diploma in Educational administration and supervision from the College of Staten Island, which allowed her to gain certifications as a New York City and New York State School and District Administrator. After 13 years in the classroom, she continued her career in education as an assistant principal, principal, and field supervisor in New York City Public schools before retiring in 2015. Dr. Barrett-Layne earned her PhD in school leadership from Concordia University in 2015 where she completed mixed methods research on the phenomenon of collective teaching efficacy in urban schools. She
presently works as an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Education for Touro College and Grand Canyon University and has been a guest lecturer at Mountbatten Institute.
She is the 2003 recipient of the NAACP William A. Morris Humanitarian award, the 2013 Urban League Charles Langere Community Service Award, and is also the recipient of a number of community service awards, Proclamations, and recognitions. She has authored and published two inspirational books, “When Your Mess Becomes Your Message”, and “Challenging Your Disappointments”, a Youth Empowerment Christian Education series, “My Life Matters” for youth groups to come together and discuss the impact of senseless killings around the country, and a training manual “Teaching Them to Observe”, for religious and spiritual educators.
Dr. Barrett is a proud supporter of Job Corps and continues to mentor students at the Edison Campus and beyond.
