Michael Barney has been director of Mass Academy since July of 2011, and is currently serving as co-director, pending his retirement in December of 2021. He began his teaching career at St. Bernard’s Central Catholic High School in Fitchburg, MA, where he taught math and computer science, and was an adjunct faculty member at both Fitchburg State University and Mount Wachusett Community College. Prior to working at Mass Academy, Mr. Barney was a guidance counselor at Wachusett Regional High School, then served as assistant principal, and subsequently Principal, of Lunenburg High School. He was president of the Midland Wachusett Secondary School Administrators Association for many years, and also coached high school level tennis, soccer and basketball.
Mr. Barney was an active member of the Board of Directors for the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS) for 7 years and served as President of that organization from 2019-2020. He is trained in the “Breaking Ranks” model of high school reform and has presented several seminars at the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators’ Association Summer Institute, NCSSS national conferences, and Massachusetts STEM Summits.
Mr. Barney earned a BA in biology from Saint Michael’s College, an MS in counseling and a CAGS in educational leadership and management from Fitchburg State University.
His hobbies include playing bass guitar, scuba diving, photography, and traveling.