Planning Time:

Tuesdays: 1:21pm-2:28pm

Wednesday-Fridays: 12:32pm-1:54pm

Room: 134

Teacher Message:

"Excellence is never convenient."

John Barnes has served as band director and instrumental music teacher at Southeast Middle School since 2022, where he served for the previous 4 years as choir director and assisted with instrumental music classes. In addition to band classes--woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments--he also teaches piano, guitar, and music appreciation. Mr. Barnes invests his charisma into building relationships through rewarding musical experiences, paying forward the powerful influence that school music programs had on him growing up.

Biography:

Before joining Hazelwood, Mr. Barnes taught band for 14 years at East St. Louis Sr. High and Parkway South High Schools, totaling 20 years as a licensed educator. He holds degrees from VanderCook College of Music (Master of Music Education, 2019) and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Bachelor of Music Education, 2003). Mr. Barnes lives in St. Charles, Missouri with his wife and two children, where he enjoys cooking, patronizing local restaurants and live music venues.