Mariah Barnett is the Director of Orchestras at Lawrence High School and is starting her twelfth year of teaching. Prior to teaching in Lawrence, Mrs. Barnett held the Director of Orchestras position at Topeka Seaman High School. She received her Bachelor’s of Music Education from Baker University and her Masters of Music Education at Kansas State University.

Mrs. Barnett is the current President for the Northeast Kansas Music Educators Association. In the past, Mrs. Barnett has held positions as the chairperson for the Northeast Kansas District Honors Orchestra, Northeast Kansas Middle Level and Da Capo Honors Orchestras, Co-Director of the Lawrence Youth Symphony, Co-Director of the Shawnee Heights Summer Orchestra Camp, Clinician for the Lawrence Public Schools Novice Program, and Orchestra Co-Director of KU’s Sunflower Music Camp.

In 2022 Mrs. Barnett was recognized as one of Governor Kelly’s Teacher of Influence as well as being awarded the Northeast Kansas Music Educators Outstanding High School Music Educator. In 2013, Mrs. Barnett was chosen as one of Kansas’s “Young Teachers of Promise” and in 2016, Mrs. Barnett was honored to be named “Kansas Young Teacher of the Year” by the Kansas Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (KASTA). When not teaching, Mrs. Barnett is a current member of the Lawrence Community Orchestra, a wife, and a mother to a very beautiful and busy five-year-old.