About Barbara Gilles

Barbara Ray was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the middle daughter of three girls, during World War II. When she entered first grade, she moved to Lincoln, Nebraska because her father became Chairman of the Botany Department at the University of Nebraska. Her Mother earned a degree in home economics and enjoyed cooking chili dinners for the foreign exchange student in her husband's university classes. Barbara's values of service to the community and educational curiosity blended with a lifestyle of outdoor activities. This opened Barbara's heart to seeing the goodness in all, and she developed a desire to be of service to humanity and a strong connection to the earth.

She began her teaching career in an outdoor school near Istanbul, Turkey when she was a teenager. Barbara joined the Peace Corps after graduating from college in education and taught 6th grade in Kolahun, Liberia. Her life passions were clear: children, earth and civilization building. She loved teaching all ages and subjects, especially outdoor education, and in 1964 she married her Peace Corps sweetheart, Lee. They had a wonderful adventuresome life and family--two boys and a girl--and today they also enjoy five grandchildren.

In 1999 Barbara Gilles was honored Teacher of the Year by President Clinton, for her ability to draw forth the unique gifts of each child as modeled in their school mural, of One World , One Heart. The World Network of Religious Futurists named Barbara Teacher of the World in 2004. Most recently she co-authored her first book with Dr. Richard Kirby, Nurturing Civilization Builders: Birthing the Best Schools in the World.

In her learning about other cultures and working with students, parents and community, including all ages and walks of life on four continents, Barbara's life mission is to live in a way that honors our community of life with its rich diversity and unity, while creating a world that works for all, through education, communications, and sustainable living.

Barbara Gilles is currently the Community Affairs Advocate for Dick's Drive-In at the Wallingford Boys and Girls Club in Seattle, WA. She is also working towards building a strong community with Seattle Pacific University local service organization and the Wallingford Boys and Girls Club. In addition, she is the Director of Educational Innovation for the Stuart C Dodd Institute for Social Innovation in Seattle, WA.

Barbara suggests that the teachers of the future consider the principles stated in the...

Hippocratic Oath [for Teachers]

I vow to hold open an environment where all are moved, touched and inspired by themselves and each other.

I vow to respect the learner and welcome his or her gifts.

I vow to develop the love and learning of nature and consciousness.

I vow to help to develop the love and enjoyment of learning about nature and consciousness.

I vow to meet each learner where they are.

I vow to be a compassionate, caring and learning companion.

I vow to do my best effort to help each of my students achieve their dreams.

I vow to guide and engage each individual in a mission of learning. To be a change agent and to realize that the learning process goes both ways.

I vow to leave passion where there was none and more passion than I found.

I vow to have fun while doing all this.

I vow to respect all, prejudge no one, serve needs, inspire first, teach to self-direct.

I vow to help all people to be able to learn from their experience.