Dr. James Barott Reflects on His 23-Year Teaching Experience Within the College of Education

By Rachel Renou, COE Grad Assistant | Published October 28, 2020

Dr. James Barott is a well-known and admired faculty member within the EMU College of Education. For the past 23 years, he has been teaching a wide variety of courses in Educational Leadership and made significant contributions to the success of countless students along the way. Most notably, Dr. Barott has advised and encouraged doctoral students to follow their hearts and pursue dissertation topics they are passionate about.

23 years ago, Dr. Barott began teaching with the EMU College of Education in a cooperative doctoral program with Grand Valley State University, taking him to numerous branch locations throughout the state in his first five years of teaching. As EMU’s Educational Leadership Program moved entirely to the Ypsilanti campus, he planted roots in the city and went on to teach a variety of doctoral courses including Education Organizations, Organizational Theory, Qualitative Research, Educational Leadership, and more. For his final year, Dr. Barott will be learning to adapt as the 2020-21 school year veers toward a predominantly online schedule. When asked about his fondest memory working with the EMU College of Education, Dr. Barott proclaimed, “I love the dissertation defenses, and view this as a rite of passage where the individual moves from student to colleague.” His greatest accomplishment? Having the privilege to train and develop students who have gone on to become superintendents, principals, university presidents, provosts, deans, educational program managers, and other leadership positions. During Dr. Barott’s last year, he hopes to continue advancing the educational and developmental health and prosperity of the local community, state and nation. He believes great teachers and leaders are extremely important in this time of increased complexity and plans to join in with EMU alumni and colleagues to ensure young people continue to have the best learning experience possible. Upon retiring, Dr. Barott and his wife plan to move to Cape Cod, MA, where he looks forward to buying a boat and spending his golden years fishing on the bay.

About The College of Education at Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, The College of Education (COE) at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) continues to be one of the largest producers of educational personnel in the nation. The COE includes a comprehensive variety of programs at the bachelor, master and doctoral program level. Non-degree and certifications are also offered through the COE as well. The COE includes departments for teacher education, special education, and leadership & counseling. All of the professional education programs offered by EMU’s COE are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and are also approved by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). The graduates the EMU produces are highly desired in the field, due to the strong reputation the COE has earned throughout their many established years. The COE has been recognized for its strong success rate by U.S. News and World Report’s: America’s Best Colleges.