Faculty Friday Spotlight Series - Mrs. Barbara McPhillips

Mrs. McPhillips discovered her passion for teaching at a young age. Through tutoring underprivileged students in high school, she learned that she could make a difference in someone’s life. Her own studies brought her to Quito, Ecuador, where she completed her student teaching semester as an exchange student at the American School of Quito. She continued teaching in Quito for two years before following her passion to teach in Caracas, Venezuela and Bogota, Colombia. Mrs. McPhillips settled in Miami where she taught reading to dyslexic and learning disabled children for six years before making St. Thomas her home. Now, she is beginning her 21st year of teaching at St. Thomas. 

Mrs. McPhillips views her teaching style as joyful. She knows that when something is fun for her students, they can achieve what they never knew might be possible. By embodying her favorite quote, “No dream is too big”, Mrs. McPhillips instills a desire to reach new heights and achieve greatness in her first grade students. Her hope for this school year is that her students develop a love of reading that tempts them to bring a flashlight to bed to read into the night. 

When she’s away from her classroom, Mrs. McPhillips enjoys taking ballet classes, traveling, and brainstorming new costume ideas for her favorite holiday, Halloween.