Ella Barnes

I was born in Anniston, Alabama, a small town outside of Birmingham. Around age 4, I moved to middle Tennessee, living in a variety of spots around Nashville. I spent three summers living in the woods of New Hampshire as a head counselor of a summer camp! My dad was dead set on naming me after one of his favorite jam band guitarists, but my mom vetoed that and named me Ella instead. My middle name, Claire, is after my great-grandmother!

I have been working with kids since I was 16. I was always passionate about leaving a positive and lasting impression on children. On my road to becoming a medical social worker, teaching was important to get to know children of all ages and grow with them as they develop.

In the summertime, I am at the Farm Campus as a co-director for the summer camp program. The rest of the year, I am with the wonderful Redbuds! I facilitate a Reggio-based learning experience for my students. We learn to be engaged, aware, and in awe of the world around us. 

My hero would have to be my mom. She is such a resilient woman! Every day she continues to amaze me. 

I have learned to enjoy the life I have been given. It can be difficult, especially when things get tough, but I know I have so much life left to live. I just got accepted into the University of Tennessee's graduate program for social work, and I have so much to be excited about

Anything that includes my dog! I love taking Ethel everywhere so she can experience everything with me. I love going out to dinner with my closest friends, watching movies, going to Billy Strings concerts with my dad, antiquing, fostering animals, and having game nights at the house!

My language is cooking! If you are coming to my house, I will have a multiple-course meal for you. Dessert is included, of course, because I have a sweet tooth.

I really eat just about anything! I really love pasta, sushi, pad thai, burritos, 

ice cream, and more. One thing that I will never say no to is chips and queso. 

Green! I love how the outdoors are full of it. (and it’s a redhead's best color). 

I would love to travel outside of the country. There is so much culture to be discovered, and so many places to be seen!

What continues to ignite my passion for my work at A New Leaf is that no two days are ever the same. The natural world is constantly changing, and every season brings new opportunities for learning, discovery, and growth. I love being able to experience those changes alongside our students and watch them develop curiosity, confidence, and a deeper connection with nature. Every day brings something new, which keeps the work exciting and meaningful.