Darren Barkett
Darren Barkett has spent his entire career working in the public schools of western North Carolina, first as a middle school English teacher, then as a middle school assistant principal, and most recently as a student support specialist out of the district offices for Asheville City Schools. At home, he has found himself vastly outnumbered by his beautiful wife, their four daughters, and their four female cats, leaving only his faithful schnauzer Chester and him to celebrate and commiserate being surrounded by loving women. Darren is an avid rock climber, spending many weekends clinging to tiny holds hundreds of feet above the ground. He is also nearly complete with his PhD studies in leadership, which he hopes to translate into an avenue for being a voice for education equity throughout the state.