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Barbara offers a wide range of services that include assessing, visioning, designing, and guiding individuals and organizations to meet their goals. Her expertise is seeing the bigger picture and then making it clear for you. Barbara focuses on the power of listening to help you understand and share your story behind the story.
Questions, contact Barbara
Grow Your WHY Podcast Series
Check out the 184+ conversations and 19 reflections Barbara had on her virtual porch. You’ll notice a name change. It is now called “Grow Your WHY,” previously the “Rethinking Learning” Podcast.
The name change is because guests are women, educators, thought leaders, influencers, and difference-makers within and beyond education who are passionate about their purpose and challenging the status quo. Podcasts feature complementary blog posts with additional resources, links, videos, and more, created in collaboration with guests from the show.
Consulting
Barbara can help you and your team address the bigger picture. She can facilitate collaboration among teachers, administrators, and stakeholders in building strategic plans and coaching programs that meet the needs of all learners. Let Barbara help you:
- Guide shared visioning sessions with staff and the school community
- Use design thinking to address challenges
- Facilitate the design of learner-centered and learner-driven environments
Coaching
Barbara has been coaching educators on-site and online for over twenty-five years. With her experience and understanding of all learners, especially adult learners and the learning process, she can help you with:
- Individual coaching for anyone who wants to live the life they love
- Supporting aspiring authors, podcast hosts, and speakers
- The Purpose Shift VALUES Framework with coaching tailored to your specific needs.
- Building a personal and professional brand
- Nudging you gently to take the next steps toward your goals
Keynotes, Presentations, Webinars, Workshops, and Playshops
Need a speaker who inspires and builds understanding? Have you hoped for a speaker who knows how to facilitate good questions that lead to good discussions? Some example topics:
- Define and Grow Your WHY
- Humanize Learning in an AI World
- Move from Stuck to UNSTOPPABLE
- Empower Learners to Develop Agency
- Bring Curiosity, Joy, and Play to Learning
- Universal Design for Learning and Your Why
- Use UDL, Design Thinking, and AI to Engage All Learners
- Make Project-Based Learning Personal
- Spark a Culture of Joy and Magic
- Design Thinking to Create Learner-Centered Environments
- Build Your Personal and Professional Brand
- Go Global and Act Locally with the U.N. SDGs
- Prepare Each Student for College, Career, and Life
Reach out to Barbara to lead change and motivate your audience!
Writing
Barbara understands how to do research on new ideas in education and how teaching and learning are changing. With Barbara’s background as a writer, she can help you:
- Start writing your book.
- Contribute articles, posts, and columns on agency, creativity, purpose, stories, and joy.
- Assist with articles or chapters on the change in education, the importance of your story, and why purpose matters.
A few of the Podcasts/Webinars featuring Barbara:
- Game Changers: Your WHY is your first fight
- EdTechBites: Ep. 288| How To Go From Stuck to Unstoppable
- State of Ed Podcast: Ep. 80: Champion of Teachers
- Someone To Tell It To Podcast: Uncovering the Why Within
- The Bridge: Joy, Mindfulness, and the Power of Connection
- Doodle and Chat with Friends: Episode 253 with Barbara
- PGPPodcast with Josh Tovar Episode 64 Podcast Smash
- LinkedUp: Breaking Boundaries in Education: Define Your Why EP142
- Growth Over Grades (Season 1 Episode 12)
- Big Think: What School Could Be with Kapono & Melanie: Define Your Why
- The Counter Narrative with Charles Williams: Interview
- Spark Joy in Education with Tisha & Elisabeth Define Your Why
- Getting Unstuck: #155/156: Are You Renting Someone Else’s Life Story?
- Out of the Trenches host Dana Goodler Episode #171
- Lemonade Learning Episode 30: Rethinking WHY on Purpose
- After Ed Host Jason Vest: Episode 7 with Barbara
- Pair-a-Dimes with Dave Truss Pair-a-Dimes 17 – Barbara
- EduMatch Tweet & Talk: EduMatch Tweet & Talk: Special Episode
- Education Today Host: Scott Nunes: Season 2 Episode 2 Grow Your Why
- Aspire to Lead Host Joshua Stamper Define Your Why
- The Dr. Will Show: How to Claim Your Story and Live Your WHY
- Inspiring Teachers with Danny Hauger: Episode 57 about Caring Deeply
- Doug Johnston Inc. Learner Agency: Finding the WHY in the Age of Accountability
- Teacher Talk with James Rice: Interviewing Barbara
- The Dr. Joy Show Leading Change and Empowering Others!
- VSR46: This is Personal Crux Learning
- CUTV News featuring Barbara
- My Bad with Jon Harper: I Left My Compassion at the Door
- Pair-a-Dimes, Dave Truss Podcast Episode #17
- itslearning: Meeting ESSA with UDL and Personalized Learning
- Kids Deserve It Podcast #91 with Adam and Todd
- TLTalk Radio: How to Personalize Learning
- 10 Minute Teacher Episode 174 with Vicki Davis
- Personalized Learning with Matt & Courtenay Episode #17
- EdWeek: How to Personalize Learning
Webinars/Workshops/Online Presentations
FETC Conference 2025: Unveil Your Inner RockStar with Personal and Professional Growth Hacks with Jerri Kemble and Erika Sandstrom
Special #CyberMonday Webinar with Walter Greason & Tim Fielder
Teach Smarter, Not Harder” summit on Dec. 2-14, 2024, with Dr. Martha Umana
#PGPPODCAST Hosted by Josh Shapiro and Dr. Marie Moreno: Episode 25 10/24 GROW YOUR WHY with Rachelle Dene Poth, Stephanie Rothstein, Jillian DuBois, and Barbara
2-day Human Intelligence Movement virtual conference on 11/8 & 11/9, 2023
CUE Conference 2023: Build Your Professional Learning Backpack to Empower Learner Agency
Aurora Institute Symposium Book Study 10/2022
Breakfast Social Hosted by Barbara & Ilene Winokur at ISTE22
Everyone Academy: Why Stories Build a Caring Classroom 6/2022
Redefine and Grow Your WHY workshop SXSWEDU 2022
Unlock the Middle: Barbara & Rita Wirtz #51 Navigating Leadership 1/2022
Deeper Learning Conference JCPS 2021 (Louisville, KY)
Mini-Keynote
Brainstorm Virtual Conference April 2021: Belonging & Purpose
Mentor at SXSW EDU 2021
4 Generations 4 Education 2021 Presentation
HighScope Indonesia Workshops (3 days with Elementary, Middle, and High School Educators)
ICE – Redefining Your WHY during Uncertain Times- July, 2020
Bringing Curiosity, Joy, & Learning to Learning – ISTE 2020
ULearn 2020 – Reimagining Personalized Learning to Empower Learner Agency
West Springfield Public Schools Workshop: Define Your Why 2019
Virtual Keynote Monday, 10/14/19
Future Summit for Long Branch SD, NJ
CEduAD Panel Sat. 10/19/19
Define Your WHY through Stories
Teacher Success Summit 10/29/19
4 Ways to Define Your WHY
iNACOL Symposium 10/29/19
Prototype for Professional Practice
“Define Your Why: Develop Your Passion so You Live and Learning on Purpose”
“Learner Agency: Bringing Curiosity, Play, and Joy to Learning” with Kerry Gallagher and Mike Mohammad
Our Poster Session “The Power of Stories using Digital Tools: Learn Ideas, Strategies, and Tips” with 12 educators who have been on Barbara’s podcast, Conversations on Learning.
Featured Speaker 6/11-13/19 JCPS
Deeper Learning Conference Kentucky
Develop Your Passion – SXSW EDU 2019
EduCon 2019 Passion-Based Learning
How to Personalize Learning (Webinar: NEA • Judith Herb College • Corwin
ISTE 2018: Learner Profile, Backpack
CUE Conference, 3/14-3/17/18:
Build Your Toolkit So Learners Develop Agency and Become Future Ready.Session 7: Friday 12:30-1:30, and Book Signing, Palm Springs, CA
SXSW EDU
March 5-8, 2018
Future20 presentation on Passion and Purpose: What is your Why?
3/5, Austin, TX
5Sigma Conference, Kickoff Keynote on Learner Agency, Anastasis Academy, Centennial, CO
Access Webinar on Meeting ESSA Guidelines with UDL/Personalized Learning hosted by @EdWeek and sponsored by @itslearning
Archived at bit.ly/2mVavql
EDUCON January 2018
Philadelphia, PA SLA Academy
Use Design Thinking with the UN SDGs
Also presented 20 slides in 5 minutes on Define Your Why
iNACOL Symposium
October 2017
Orlando, Florida
Preparing Each Student for College, Career, and Life
Barbara Bray and Rose Colby
ISTE17 – Design Thinking Process and Universal Design for Learning Planning Toolkit
San Antonio, TX
June 26, 2017
Barbara Bray and Jackie Gerstein
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, MD
February 27 – March 1, 2017
Make PBL Personal: Design Thinking and Technology
Presented by Barbara Bray and Lori Roe on February 28th
This session focused on how students can become self-directed, independent learners with project-based learning activities using design thinking and technology. Barbara and Lori shared examples and models of technology using a process in implementing PBL.
Participants experienced the design thinking process as learners themselves. We hope they walked away with some ideas they can use in their classrooms. Barbara raffled off two signed books.
Hosted by Rodel Teacher Council at Del Tech Campus, Dover, DE Saturday, February 25th,
Barbara did the opening keynote on the “Future of Learning” and why it is important for our kids to have the skills they need for their future. She share why innovation and creativity is crucial for learners today.
Lori Roe, Instructional Technology Specialist, Cape Henlopen School District, DE co-presented a session with Barbara on “Design Thinking and Passion Projects.” Participants learned how to encourage more voice and choice for kids in project- and challenge- based learning.
The Rodel Teacher Council had activities that encouraged people to get to know each other including ways to take fun selfies. Corwin donated 5 books, How to Personalize Learning for their raffle that Barbara signed.
Learning & the Brain Conference
The Science of How We Learn
Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA – February 17-19, 2017
Barbara Bray @bbray27 facilitated a pre-conference workshop, Developing Learners with Agency, on February 17th, 2017 from 8:30 am-11:30 pm PT
There were 75 participants in the Crowne Room on the 24th floor of the Fairmont Hotel with amazing views.
Participants explored personalized learning with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) lens so they could discover how learners learn best. They used the design thinking process with the information from UDL to redesign instructional methods and learning environments.
Barbara, @bbray27, facilitated conversations on project-based learning with attendees in groups sharing ideas how teachers can encourage voice and choice with each of the PBL elements. The protocols with the conversations used design thinking and going deeper with Yes-But, and Yes-And and then included What? So What? and Now What?
Barbara also did an Ignite session on Sat. Jan. 28th (20 slides in 5 minutes) on the Future of Learning.
TIES 2016 Ed Tech Conference Minneapolis Hyatt Regency, December 11 – 13, 2016
Barbara was a spotlight speaker presenting four sessions 12/12 & 12/13
- Be Learner-Centered with Mobile Learning
- Use Design Thinking to Redesign Learning Spaces
- PBL, Inquiry, and Design Thinking
- Build a Passion-Based Classroom & School
Barbara also signed several books in their book store. What a great conference with awesome educators even though it was very cold outside!
Tues. October 18th, 2016 8pm ET, 5pm PT
Archive and Handouts here
YouTube Video of Interview
Hosted by Zack Baker and Pete Freeman
@edweekevents @itslearningUSA
College and Career Readiness through Project-Based Learning
EdWeek Webinar hosted by its Learning
September 21, 2016 2pm ET
A free online conference, Sept. 3rd!
How did you transform your passion into reality?
Barbara Bray guided activities to develop strategies for the 300 principals across WCPSS to move their schools to learner agency.
The Area Superintendents were the facilitators with about 25-30 principals each who went deeper with learner agency. The discussions brought about some wonderful conversations to help each school start designing next steps.
Coaching the Coaches
July 18, 2016
Barbara Bray trained and supported the coaches at Fulton County Schools in GA who became the Lead personalized learning coaches for the district. They reviewed research on coaching, mentoring, and facilitation strategies, role play situations that may be out of the teacher’s own comfort zone, and developed effective facilitation skills for face-to-face coaching and the online environment.
Storytelling can Change Teaching and Inspire Learning (Ignite Session at ISTE 2016)
Sunday, June 26, 1:30–2:45 pm MT Round 1 Building/Room: CCC Bellco Theatre
Barbara presented 20 slides in 5 minutes around storytelling as part of Round 1 of the Ignite Sessions. Barbara shared stories with great messages, how everyone is a storyteller, and how teachers can share and encourage stories that inspire learning.
Personalized Learning with #sdedchat
Tuesday, May 24th at 8pm CST
https://goo.gl/mpslL8
Verizon Mobile Learning Academy
Sponsored by ISTE & Verizon
April 26, 2016
Be Learner-Centered with Mobile Learning
Barbara shared how teachers can meet several of the ISTE Standards for Teachers and Students as they move toward learner-centered environments by reducing barriers in the curriculum and maximize learning.
The take aways for this webinar were an understanding of Universal Design for Learning, the Stages of Personalized Learning across the Continuums, and examples from educators about how they move to learner-centered with mobile learning aligned to ISTE standards. Barbara gave a book away to Ken Williams, teacher from Virginia who asked some great questions about personalizing learning.
Archive to recording http://iste.adobeconnect.com/p553yseegox/
Melissa Emler (@MelissaEmler) interviewed Barbara Bray for her podcast show, On the Vendor Floor.
Check out her interview about Learner Agency
Learning Cultures Defined Conversations with Mariam Herrmann @mariam_herrmann
A Free Mini-Summit for Educational Leaders March 10, 2016
Building Learner Agency Through Relationships
An Interview with Barbara Bray (@bbray27)
Register at MariamHerrmann.com
TLTalk Radio
Session 2: Episode 5 on Personalized Learning
December 6, 2015 Interview: Barbara Bray
TLTalkRadio hosts Lynn Fuini-Hetten(@lfuinihetten) and Randy Ziegenfuss (@ziegeran) weekly as they share leadership stories and invited Barbara to answer questions about personalized learning including “In personalized learning, learners have a voice. How do we help teachers and learners to value that voice especially after being in a system that has not focused on learner agency?”
So What Does that Mean for You? Then a whole day follow up session from 10:00 am to 3 pm: Make Learning Personal: The What, Who, and Why of Personalized Learning. There were 43 educators and 2 walked away with our book.
PLANT A SEED OF BELIEFS ARCHIVED VIDEO
2015 Next Generation Schools Symposium
Next Generation Pre-Conference Workshop
Wed., March 18, 2015 (8 to 4) Stayer Center,
Marian University, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Make Learning Personal: The What, Who, and Why of Personalized Learning
Barbara Bray facilitated an interactive workshop where participants wove research, sto, ies and practical strategies together to create a deeper understanding of what it means to personalize learning.
Digital Educator Day
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Friday, February 27, 2015 – 10:45am and 1:00pm
Make Learning Personal:
The What & Why of Personalized Learning
Barbara Bray facilitated 2 sessions around research and strategies along with stories to create a deeper understand of what it means to personalize learning.
Barbara raffled off 2 books and did a book signing.
Fall CUE Conference October 24-25, 2014
Barbara participated on a panel with Elizabeth Calhoon, Jon Corripo, Rob Darrow, Susan Stewart, and Diana Darrow to discuss how personalized learning is the umbrella for a blended learning environment.