Harmony Kindergarten Teacher Earns Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) Exemplary Recognition Through Heart-Centered Approach

When Chana Barnes steps into her kindergarten classroom at Harmony School of Science-San Antonio each morning, she brings more than sixteen years of teaching experience; she brings a heart full of love for her "littles" and an unwavering commitment to their success.

In the 2024-25 school year, Barnes earned recognition as a TIA Exemplary teacher, a prestigious designation that acknowledges her exceptional impact on student achievement and growth. For Barnes, this honor represents the culmination of years dedicated to perfecting her craft while staying true to her core belief: empowering young minds through passionate, purposeful teaching. 

"I have always been passionate about others and empowering the minds of others since I was a child myself," Barnes said, reflecting on what drew her to education. "I chose this career path because of that passion."

Her principal's, Grace Cruz, recommendation speaks volumes about Barnes' approach to teaching. "She is a dedicated kindergarten teacher who truly loves her students and supports them and their families," the principal noted. "She is very structured and leads with love in her classroom. The atmosphere in her class encourages learning, fun and kindness."

Building Excellence Through Harmony's Framework

Barnes credits Harmony Public Schools' comprehensive support system for helping her achieve TIA recognition. Harmony’s Core4 instructional framework has been particularly transformative in strengthening her lesson delivery.

"Core4 helps me as an educator create stronger lessons with better focus and emphasis on standard-aligned objectives, explicit modeling and scaffolded practice," Barnes explained. "Being knowledgeable of Core4 practices help me to begin every lesson with a clear objective, model the skill, provide guided practice, then independent practice."

The Core4 approach aligns perfectly with Harmony's mission to provide quality, student-centered education with strong emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Even in kindergarten, Barnes incorporates these principles while focusing on her favorite subject: English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR).

Harmony's commitment to professional growth has been instrumental in Barnes' development. "Harmony has helped me to achieve these things by always having opportunities for professional growth, positive and directive feedback, as well as support through peer interaction," she said.

Collaborative Culture Drives Success

While Barnes doesn't have a formal mentor teacher, she emphasizes the collaborative spirit that defines Harmony's culture. "Here at Harmony we all are helpers one to another plus we have a very strong grade level team that help each other out," she noted.

This collaborative approach extends to Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), which Barnes says "supports teacher growth and performance because we go over grade-level specific goals and expectations. We also get an opportunity to zoom in closely on data and how it relates to current and future student achievement."

Beyond Academics: Teaching Life Skills

What sets Barnes apart isn't just her academic instruction; it's her holistic approach to child development. Her principal highlighted how "her care does not end with only academics, she is also committed to teaching her scholars self-regulation and how to be a good friend."

This comprehensive approach reflects Harmony's vision of leading students from the classroom into the world as productive and responsible citizens, starting from the earliest grades.

Looking Forward

Barnes plans to reinvest her TIA bonus back into her classroom and family, demonstrating her continued commitment to both her students and loved ones. Her future goals include continuing to grow in her craft and expanding her knowledge through additional college coursework.

"I look forward to continuing here at Harmony, striving to make a continual impact on the lives of our most prized!" Barnes said, referring to her students with the affection that has become her trademark.

When she's not in the classroom, Barnes enjoys spending time with family, traveling and exploring home design, fashion, cosmetology and other ways of creative expression,  experiences that undoubtedly enrich the vibrant learning environment she creates for her kindergarten scholars.

Through her TIA Exemplary teacher recognition, Barnes exemplifies how dedication, heart-centered teaching and continuous professional growth can transform young lives. Her achievement stands as an inspiration to educators everywhere who believe in the power of leading with love while maintaining high academic standards for every student.

For more information about Texas’s TIA, visit this website: https://tiatexas.org/