Barbara Mitchell

Who was Barbara Mitchell?

Barbara was born in Toronto and was raised in Canada and England, as the third of nine children of Reta Howard and Garfield Weston. She earned her BA in history from Stanford University and advanced teaching certification from the University of London, England, where she subsequently worked for several years before moving with her husband, Robert Mitchell, to New York, Sydney and ~ finally ~ Toronto.

The daughter of a teacher and the mother of a lawyer-turned-teacher, one might say Barbara had teaching “in her blood.”

Barbara was intensely musical, and mastered several instruments including the piano, violin and viola. She had a beautifully trained voice and was comfortable performing publicly throughout her life. Active in the community through her volunteer work, Barbara loved to learn, whether by reading, travel, or listening to others, and instilled a passion for education and exploration in her six children.

Barbara's passion for excellence in education shaped the lives of those she loved, and her desire was that students everywhere could also have the benefit of a full and rewarding education.