Lives of Consequence
Barbara McGann Sims ’70
Educator and Reading Specialist
Barbara McGann Sims ’70 is a writing tutor for middle, high school and GED students as well as a dedicated public servant to local youth in her home of Hudson, Mont. As an educator for nearly 30 years in five states across the western U.S., Sims brings the vibrancy of culture and world travels into the classroom to foster inclusivity and student growth. She is an active member of her local chapter of Peace Corps Veterans and a board member of Missoula Writers’ Collaborative, which funds creative writing curriculum in local public schools.
Sims graduated from William Smith with a degree in English and French. After earning her master’s in education from the University of Arizona, Sims served the Peace Corps in the Philippines as an elementary teacher and journal editor from 1973 to 1976. Her Corps service led her to travel across Asia, an experience that immersed Sims in a life of global citizenship.
Throughout her career, Sims has carried the spirit of the Peace Corps back home with her to better education for underserved communities. She championed funding and grant disbursement for Native American education while living in Alaska, and has continued to learn the various languages of her Native American students to promote cultural exchange in the classroom. Sim’s dedication to education spans far beyond the classroom in her devotion to recruiting Peace Corps volunteers throughout her community and working closely with Native American tribes to provide culturally inclusive curriculum in schools.