About William
Leadership and Education CATALYST
Dr. William Spady is the internationally recognized authority on paradigm-shifting and personally empowering approaches to Transformational Outcome-Based Education (TOBE). 2018 marked his fiftieth year as the leading definer, advocate, teacher, and implementer of this ‘Success for All Learners’ paradigm.
Today he coordinates a distinguished team of pioneering researchers and change agents called the New Paradigm Network. Its purpose statement summarizes the essence of his philosophy and career: “Creating Transformational Breakthroughs in Learning, Living and Leadership.”
The Essence of Bill’s Work
Lead with your heart; the truth will follow. Thoth
Known throughout the world as both “The Father of OBE” and as a compelling, insightful speaker, Bill has addressed countless tens of thousands of educators and policy makers throughout the world, and has spearheaded major initiatives on TOBE throughout North America, South Africa, Australia, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. His international consulting also includes schools or universities in Israel and Egypt, and speaking engagements at conferences in England, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. He has been a featured speaker on the national programs of most major educational organizations in the U.S. and was honored as “Distinguished Lecturer” at AASA’s national convention six times.
Bill’s paradigm-shifting, cutting-edge workshops, seminars, lectures, and hands-on design projects focus on expanding the vision, deepening the philosophical grounding, and improving the performance of learners, educators, leaders, and educational systems of all kinds. He applies his sociological background, expertise, and decades of deep inner work to all of his projects, specializing in organizational change, transformational leadership development, strategic organizational design, and deep, empowering models of learning and living. His writings and frameworks embody, elevate, and inspire visions of human learning and potential, but transcend conventional views of human nature, growth, performance, and self-actualization.
Dr. Spady’s “Amazing Journey of Spiritual Awakening” took form in 1975 and has deepened and evolved profoundly since. During these 45 years he worked closely with or intensely absorbed the teachings of the Lifespring Organization, Tom Kenyon, Sue Myers, Mona Snodgrass, Neale Donald Walsch, Dr. Don Beck, Dr. David Hawkins, Selene, Kryon, Dr. Liana Mattulich, Thomas Schnitzius, Prof. Bart Ehrman, Dr. Bruce Lipton, Gregg Braden, Delores Cannon, and both North and South American shamans. His 2013 book Opening to Greater Realities captures four decades of those consciousness-expanding experiences. Undaunted, he continues to explore, integrate, and describe those greater realities in his life and professional work, including his 2014 book Bringing Heart and Soul to Education.
Why Work With Me?
I can help you create powerful solutions for your leadership.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Bill entered the University of Chicago in 1957. While at UC he won a fellowship to study in Germany, and received degrees in Humanities (1962), Education (1964), and a PhD. in the Sociology of Education (1967). His career began on the Graduate faculties at Harvard University (1967-69) and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (1969-73). He held a series of leadership positions in major national educational agencies and organizations until 1991 when he formed the High Success Network, carrying out cutting-edge TOBE initiatives in forty U.S. States and most of Canada. Two doctoral dissertations feature Bill’s career and work: John Hader in 2011 at Loyola University in Chicago; and Yasmina Thomas in 2012 at Johnson and Wales University.
In 2015 a Center on Transformational OBE in the Philippines was named in Dr. Spady’s honor.
After moving to Colorado in 1991 and learning to ski, Bill qualified for the NASTAR ski racing National Championships three years in a row. He now lives on a Christmas tree farm in Oregon and enjoys cycling, Oregon’s ocean beaches, salmon fishing, listening to his incredible sound system, and reading anything that expands his awareness and deepens his spirituality. A former symphony trumpeter, Bill loves classical music, symphony concerts and operas and still performs with the alumni orchestra of the Portland Youth Philharmonic.