Barbara has dedicated herself to two basic propositions: providing a consistently high quality, equitable physical education program to all of her students while working to elevate the stature of teachers and the teaching profession. One message that Barbara hopes to convey is that it is not only the right, but also the responsibility of teachers to participate in education policy decisions. When teachers finally accept the role of education leaders, when teacher leaders are the rule rather than the exception; that is when we will have moved the profession forward and significantly increased the likelihood of improved student learning.
Barbara Kelley
Bangor, ME | Years Taught: 1974 – 2003
Additional Recognition
- 2003 – Present • Board of Directors for James B. Hunt Institute for Educational Leadership & Policy
- 2003 • Board of Directors for Donors Choose NC, web based philanthropy organization
- 2003 • One of three panelists to present at the Quality of Education Conference in Athens, Greece
- 1997 – 03 • Chair, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Board of Directors (Only teacher to chair)
- 2002 • Co-presenter at Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools
- 2002 • Leader of NBPTS Certified Teachers in Australia and New Zealand for the People to People Ambassadors Program
- 2002 • Featured Speaker at the First Lady’s White House Summit on Teacher Quality
- 2001 • Collaborated with former Executive Vice-President of NBPTS and Dean of Education at Alverno College on the development process for accrediting professional development programs for Romanian teachers
- 2001 • Led a “Teaching Standards Delegation” of 180 educators to China over a 12 day period for the People to People Ambassadors Program
- 1999 • Named “One of Ten People Who Shaped the Decade in American Education” by Teacher Magazine
- 1998 • Recognized by the Maine State Legislature for excellence as an educator and outstanding leadership in the Bangor School system
- 1998 • Milken National Educator Award
- 1996-98 • Vice President, Maine Education Association
- 1995 • Elected Vice-Chair of the NBPTS Board of Directors
- 1991 • Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
- 1991 • One of two Maine teachers appointed by Governor John McKernan to serve on the Governor’s Task Force on School Funding
- 1981 • Named Field Hockey Coach of the Year by the Maine High School Coaches Association