Monthly Board Spotlight: Barbara Maclam

About Barbara Maclam

Barbara Maclam was first introduced to the importance of mental health when she was a student in college. She learned about the concept of wellness, which includes physical health, intellectual health, and social/emotional health. She used that concept to guide her approach to teaching Health, Physical Education, and Dance. After 22 years devoted to teaching in traditional public schools, Barbara decided to expand her teaching experience and joined the education program at the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents. She discovered that teaching k-12 HPE in a mental health facility allowed her to truly teach the whole child based on her philosophy on wellness.

In addition to teaching, Barbara has experience serving at the local, state, and national level. Some of these experiences include volunteering with MHAA, serving on the regional Health and Physical Education Council through Augusta Health, and providing professional development opportunities for area teachers. At the state level, she served on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, served on the Dance Standards of Learning for the revision team for the Virginia Department of Education, and served in the role of Supervisor for student teachers. She is also an Instructional Coach for the Virginia New Teachers Support Program. Nationally, Barbara is a founding member and part of the Leadership Team of the National Dance Society.

Barbara Maclam holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance and an Educational Leadership Certificate from James Madison University as well as a Master of Science in Education from Virginia Tech. She continues to grow professionally through seeking opportunities in leadership and in mental health as well as pursuing her goal of Google for Education Certified Trainer.