Fatimah Barrie, who graduated from CCNY in 2018 with degrees in Political Science and Black Studies, has been honored with a Big Apple Award from the NYC Department of Education — a distinction that recognizes exceptional teachers who go above and beyond for their students and communities.
Barrie teaches sixth grade history at Uncommon Canarsie Middle School in Brooklyn, where she has spent eight years not only in the classroom but as the school’s lead lesson planner, curriculum writer, and lead for professional development. Her school serves a predominantly Black, Latino, and economically disadvantaged student body, and consistently outperforms comparable schools on academic measures. But for Barrie, the numbers tell only part of the story.
Barrie’s approach to teaching is rooted in joy as foundation over performance. She describes joy as removing the rigid power dynamic between teacher and student and creating a space where young people feel seen, valued, and safe.
“For some, joy may look performative in the classroom, like sing-a-longs, chants, and dance breaks,” said Barrie. “For me, joy is building relationships with them, not just teaching them. It is about students feeling seen, valued, and safe.”
Her path to the classroom was anything but linear. Growing up in Harlem and attending seven schools across her K-12 years — including an expulsion from high school — Barrie arrived at City College planning to become a lawyer. A chance encounter with a former classmate just weeks before graduation led her to a teaching position at Uncommon, where she quickly found her calling. She shares her own story openly with students on the first day of school, letting them know that setbacks do not define what comes next.
It is exactly the kind of lesson City College was built to teach — and exactly the kind of educator our alumni go on to become.
Alumni Stories
Morgan Peters—MPA Alumni Spotlight ✨
