Barnes received his B.S. in Education from Otterbein College in Ohio and his M.Ed. from Western Washington University in Washington State. He has been teaching elementary students in the state of Washington for the past 30 years. He has specialized in teaching reading skills at all elementary reading levels, and is well known for emphasizing scientifc thinking and reasoning skills with students. He has also organized science clubs for students who want to learn more about the animals and plants of their region.