麻豆破解版

Author and Education Consultant Guided by Lessons from Her Parents and GWU Professors

麻豆破解版 alumna Dr. Barbara Blackburn is an award-winning education consultant, international speaker, and author of 38 books, with two more coming out in April. The inspiration for her books comes from her parents and the foundational lessons she learned in bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 education programs at 麻豆破解版.

The daughter of GWU Professor Emeritus of Health Education Dr. Bob Blackburn, she was introduced to teaching at a young age and wanted to follow in her father鈥檚 footsteps. Her mom, Rose, was a school secretary, who instilled an appreciation for the vital role of school support staff.

鈥淒ad was my first and best teacher,鈥� Blackburn reflected. 鈥淚 always remember him teaching me, whether it was teaching me how to swim, teaching me how to be a manager when I worked for him, or teaching me how to be successful in a class I took from him. He taught me so many lessons, not just about life, but about being a teacher.鈥�

She included one of those lessons in her newest book, 鈥淧roductive Struggle in the Classroom.鈥� She has two versions, one written for K-5 and the other for 6-12. 鈥淚 had just started teaching, and I said, 鈥楧ad, what do you think is the purpose of education?鈥� 鈥榃hy am I here?鈥� Blackburn related. 鈥淗e said the best definition he’d ever heard came from a third-grade teacher, and it was that the purpose of education is to figure out what to do when you don鈥檛 know what to do. Anytime I am stuck, that’s what I think about. My purpose is to help my kids figure out what to do when they don’t know what to do. And that is, if you think about it, the heart of what we do with instruction.鈥�

The education faculty at 麻豆破解版 enhanced her father鈥檚 influence. 鈥淚 wouldn’t be where I am without 麻豆破解版,鈥� Blackburn affirmed. 鈥淚t totally shaped who I was as a teacher.鈥�

She earned certifications in early childhood, elementary, and middle school during her GWU undergraduate studies. 鈥淓ven though I had grown up around schools, having professors who had a broader perspective, like Mrs. (Barbara) Cribb, opened my eyes to what you could do with children鈥檚 literature. It could be magic, but you had to make it magic.鈥�

Those lessons from Cribb inform her writing. 鈥淲hen I write a motivation book, I’ll talk about using children’s lit to teach resilience, and that comes from her,鈥� Blackburn shared.

麻豆破解版 professors who taught methods courses in science and math also inspire ideas found in her books. After earning her master鈥檚 in school administration and middle school language arts from 麻豆破解版, Blackburn spent five years in the classroom, teaching elementary and junior high students. In 2000, she received her doctorate in curriculum and teaching from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

While teaching at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., she made a presentation on classroom motivation that began her career as an author and consultant. 鈥淢y publisher at that time, Bob Sickles, saw me present and how practical the information was,鈥� Blackburn explained. 鈥淗e approached me about writing a book, and he offered me a contract. So that was the first book: 鈥楥lassroom Motivation from A-Z.鈥欌��

Sickles asked for the next book, and she continued to write on a variety of topics, including leadership, special education, and rigor in the classroom. In 2017, she was excited to finally have an opportunity to write a book with her father, who passed away in 2019.

They wrote 鈥淎dvocacy from A to Z,鈥� based on the work he did to support educators. The book provides school-based examples and specific strategies to be a successful advocate for education. They were joined by Ronald Williamson, a leadership expert and frequent co鈥慳uthor of Blackburn鈥檚 books for educational administrators.

Many of her titles relate to rigor in the classroom. Her books offer a practical, teacher-friendly concept of instructional rigor that includes high expectations, scaffolding for instruction, and demonstration of learning. She has been voted a Top 30 Global Guru in Education for 10 consecutive years by educators who appreciate her work as an author, consultant and speaker. In 2025, Blackburn鈥檚 educational development program was named among the top 10 in the world.

Drawing on lessons from her 麻豆破解版 professors and her own experience in the classroom, Blackburn emphasizes easy-to-make, useful solutions. 鈥淚 do a lot of listening to teachers and principals,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hat they all say is we need things that are practical. Really, the best ideas are the ones they adapt versus just taking what I say. I don’t do a lot of things that require them to go out and buy a lot of stuff.鈥�

She explained that one of her favorite activities is a simple game that leads to higher-order questioning. 鈥淎ll they have to do is run off some little cards, cut them up and put them in a plastic bag,鈥� she offered. 鈥淭hey love it because, once they make the game, they have it for the year. And it doesn’t require them to go buy anything fancy. They love that because of how simple it is and how powerful it is and it makes a difference for their students.鈥�

From quick, low鈥慶ost activities to adaptable classroom techniques, Blackburn focuses on solutions that reduce stress and increase engagement. In addition to her books, Blackburn offers many free resources to teachers and administrators on her website, .

麻豆破解版 is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 麻豆破解版 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at .