Barbara Bray

BIOGRAPHY

Barbara is a coach, teacher, writer, disruptor, risk-taker, learning designer, connector, and visionary. She calls herself a creative learning strategist where others call her a “change-maker.” Whenever anyone told Barbara she couldn’t do something, she took it as a challenge. Her dream long ago was to create an online place for educators that was safe and secure with all the tools and resources in one place. She did it with My eCoach as early as 1999 — way before there was Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest. Barbara is what some call a “Digital Pioneer.” With her coaching background and an amazing team, they created coaching and mentoring strategies and processes that have been adopted in schools and districts in the U.S. and other countries. Barbara coined the phrase “Making Learning Personal” in 2000 and trademarked it in 2002. She brought in different learning approaches such as Universal Design for Learning that addressed the needs of all learners. In 2004, she started her Rethinking Learning blog in My eCoach. In 2010, she moved her blog to this website, barbarabray.net, to expand on the writing she was doing. Barbara founded Personalize Learning, LLC in 2012 with Kathleen McClaskey who she co-authored two books on personalized learning: Make Learning Personal and How to Personalize Learning. After several years later, they decided to do what they do best and consult independently. For Barbara, this meant expanding on the coaching she had been doing for years. Barbara continues to find and research new tools and methods that help educators create learner-centered environments and how any person no matter what age can find their purpose and develop agency.

Speech Topics
  • "Define Your WHY || The Future Of Learning And Work || Build A Toolkit So Learners Develop Agency || Bringing Curiosity
  • Joy
  • And Play To Learning || Create A Prototype To Change Teaching Practice || Making Project-Based Learning Personal || Create A Culture Of Learning || Design Thinking To Create Learner-Centered Environments || Use Social Media To Build Your PLN || Personal Professional Learning And YOU! || Going Global And Act Locally With The SDGs || Universal Design For Learning And Your Why || Preparing Each Student For College
  • Career
  • And Life"

Achievements
  • 2018: TeachSDGs Ambassador

  • 2014: Ed Tech Digest Trending Organization, Personalize Learning, LLC

  • 2009: Platinum Disk Award, Computer Using Educators (CUE)

  • 2006: Google Certified Teacher, First Cohort

  • 1998: Masters Certificate in Education Technology Leadership – Cal State East Bay

  • 1998: Gold Disk Award, Computer Using Educators (CUE)


Testimonials
Books
  • || Define Your WHY || How to Personalize Learning