Administration

Dr. Ashanti T. Barnes

Ms. Ashanti Barnes, serves as principal of Van Winkle Elementary School, a world-class education site committed to providing a strong start to our District’s youngest scholars.

Ms. Barnes is an experiential educator who has devoted her life’s work to building teaching capacity in an effort to positively impact student academic achievement. Ms. Barnes has coordinated and presented professional development sessions for pre-service and in-service educators throughout the state of Mississippi on various topics including, but not limited to, increasing childhood literacy proficiency and incorporating multiple intelligence theory in a class setting.  As a result of her success and expertise, she was asked to serve as a member of the Mississippi Literacy Association’s Board of Directors where she diligently spearheads outreach efforts to advocate for equity in literacy.  She has served as a general education teacher and instructional interventionist in Jackson Public Schools.

Ms. Barnes has also served the Mississippi Department of Education as an educator-in-residence, literacy coach and assessment auditor.  There, she coordinated the Literacy Based Promotion Act and provided appropriate services to schools so there could be a cohesive, sustained, intensive and classroom-focused approach that was rigorous, engaging and relevant for students.

Ms. Barnes received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Elementary Education from Jackson State University.  She also holds a specialist’s degree in Educational Leadership: Curriculum and Instruction and is, presently, pursuing an Educational Administration doctoral degree at Mississippi College.  She is the proud mother of three young adults: Tykia, Tony and Tykala, and is the doting grandmother of Reese and Hendrix.

Qualifications:

• B.S. Elementary Ed., Jackson State University
• M. ED., Jackson State University
• ED. S., Mississippi College

Varranda Henderson Love

Varranda Henderson Love is the Assistant Principal at Shirley Elementary School. She brings 17 years of educational experience. During this time, Mrs. Love has contributed to the success of students and teachers by supporting and engaging in instructional strategies that enhance teaching and learning. Her career began at Hardy Middle School as an Art teacher. Later, she began working in the Hinds County School District for four years as a teacher and Coach.  A few years later, Mrs. Love was employed with the Vicksburg-Warren School District where she served as the Academy Coach and 9^th Grade Administrator.  Trusting the process, Mrs. Love returned to JPS to gain experience in preparation for an Administrative role on the Elementary level and secured a position at Peeples Middle School as a teacher while working as the Site Coordinator at Key Elementary After School Program and the 21st Century Afterschool Program.