Welcome
Photo by Kayte Churchill, Ledgehill Photography
Barbara Kent Lawrence, Ed.D.
WELCOME!
Barbara Kent Lawrence, Ed.D.
You will find more about me and my work on this site than you probably want. To make the site easier to search, I’ve divided information about my books and experience. For example, the section about my new book, Both Sides of the Pond, My Family’s War: 1933-1946, has selected references, photographs and other material that I was not able to include in the book. The section about my academic work includes my articles and papers in education.
My interests and background are most politely described as “eclectic,” and my writing reflects this. People are often instructed to write from pain and passion, and I would add: immerse yourselves in something you want to learn about. My books reflect all three motivations.
I’ve written many articles and nine books, including an award-winning dissertation about the influence of culture on aspirations in Maine. I’ve taught courses in anthropology, sociology and research, and writing non-fiction and memoirs in a high school and three universities.
In addition to teaching, I’ve worked for the Department of Social Services and the Housing Development Administration in New York, directed a small museum in Maine, co-run a brokerage and construction company, consulted for the Rural School and Community Trust and KnowledgeWorks, and started four non-profit organizations supporting the environment and students. I live in Maine with my longtime partner, Bob, and am working on the third novel in my Islands series.
Thanks very much for your interest in my work.
Barbara
Education
- Milton Academy, Milton, MA – High School, 1961
- Bennington College – BA in Anthropology, 1965
- New York University – MA in Sociology, 1969
- Boston University School of Education – EdD in Administration, Training and Policy Studies, 1998
Employment
In Education
- Adjunct Professor, Lesley University (2000 – 2010)
- Consultant and Director, Dollars & SENSE Project, KnowledgeWorks Foundation (2004 – 2006)
- Adjunct Professor, Northeastern University, School of Education (2004 – 2006)
- Director, Facilities Initiative, The Rural School and Community Trust (1998 – 2004)
- Teaching Assistant, School of Education, Boston University (1995 – 1997)
- Teacher, History Department Head, Dean of Guidance, Brunswick School, Greenwich, CT (1971 – 1979)
In Real Estate
- Broker, Consultant, LandVest, Boston Office (1995 – 1999)
- President, Designated Broker and Co-Owner, Train Properties, Northeast Harbor, Maine (1980 – 1997)
Other
- Caseworker, Department of Human Services, NYC (1965 – 1968)
- HDA, NYC (1968 – 1971)
- Director, Robert Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME (1979 – 1981)
Volunteer Work in Education
- Stewardship Education Alliance (SEA), Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board (2017 – 2024)
- Member, Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee, MA (2012 – 2015)
- Citizens School, Boston, Member of “Brain Trust” (1996 – 1997)
- Trinity Church, Boston, Member Education Task Force (1996 – 1998)
- Field Studies for Children, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME – Co-founder, Advisory Board (1980 – 1996)
- The Tremont School Fund, Tremont, ME – Co-Founder and Co-Chair (1984 – 1990)
Other Volunteer Work
- Board Member, League of Women Voters, Hamilton-Wenham (2009 – 2012)
- Co-founder and President of the Board, Hamilton-Wenham GREEN (2007 – 2010)
- Member, Hamilton Government Study Committee (2007 – 2012)
Books
Articles available at www.barbaralawrence.com
- Both Sides of the Pond, My Family’s War (Forthcoming, 2025)
- The Other Island: Ben’s Story (2017)
- Islands of Time, a novel, Maine Authors Publishing (2013)
- The Hungry i: A Workbook for Partners of Men with Eating Disorders, Greenback Press (2010)
- dollars & SENSE!! Lessons from Good, Cost-Effective Small Schools (2005)
- The Hermit Crab Solution: Creative Alternatives for Improving Small Schools & Keeping Them Close to Home, ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools (2004)
- dollars and SENSE: The Cost Effectiveness of Small Schools, KnowledgeWorks Foundation (2002)
- Bitter Ice: A Memoir of Love, Food, and Obsession, Wm. Morrow, New York (1999)
- The Influence of Culture on Aspirations: A Case Study of Mount Desert Island – Winner, National Rural Education Association Dissertation Award (1998)
For Book Clubs:
Discussion Questions About Islands of Time
Visit:
Book Club Discussion Questions
Comment from a Book Club Reader
“My book club met last week and so loved discussing your book. It generated so many connections of our hometown and the ‘outsiders.’ We even got into sharing first loves. Most books don’t allow us to delve into our own personal lives, but yours conjured up all kinds of memories. I just hope the book clubs around the country enjoy discussing your book as much as we did.”
— Lynn B., Pennsylvania
Please contact me at:
bkl@barbaralawrence.com
I’d love to send you a signed bookmark and hear what you think about Islands of Time. You can also buy a signed copy of any of my books.
Join me on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/barbarakentlawrence
Now available on Amazon:
Buy on Amazon.com
