Dr. William Spady

For over five decades educators internationally have recognized the enormous energy, unique perspectives, compelling insights, and selfless spirit that Dr. William Spady has brought to education systems across the world. Often called the “Father of Outcome-Based Education,” his unique, paradigm-shifting, engaging, and personally empowering approaches to learning, leadership and human empowerment have elevated, transformed and revolutionized educational thinking, leadership and practice at all levels of the system. Recognized widely for his expansive vision, vast breadth of knowledge, and ability to integrate and synthesize ideas into user-friendly frameworks, Bill exemplifies what it means to be a Creative Catalyst and Lifelong Learner—advancing learning and leadership in innovative, ever-evolving ways. 

Bill’s enormous international reputation is shaped by both the concepts and processes gained during his PhD grounding in sociology and his decades of deep inner-growth experiences. Lauded as a compelling, insightful speaker, he has shared this work both in countless in-person and online presentations with hundreds of thousands of educators, leaders, and policy makers throughout North America and the world, including South Africa, India, Asia, Australia, the Philippines, several Middle East countries, and now China. His many transformative workshops, seminars, lectures, and hands-on design projects–fueled by his notable sociological background, research expertise, and decades of deep inner work–reflect his expansive understanding of human potential, leadership, and learning and transcend conventional views of human nature, growth, performance, and self-actualization. All of this, along with his congenial nature, sense of humor, and collaborative spirit has earned him the unqualified admiration and respect of colleagues everywhere.

A native of Portland, Oregon, Dr. Spady entered the University of Chicago as an undergraduate in 1957. While there he won a fellowship to study in Frankfurt, Germany for a year and received a BA degree in Humanities (1962), MA in 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). From there Bill held a series of directorships and leadership positions in major national educational agencies and organizations in the US until 1986. He then formed the High Success Network, a consulting group that carried out cutting-edge Outcome Based Education, strategic design, team-building, and leadership development initiatives in forty U.S. states and most of Canada. His notable career work and influence are featured in two doctoral dissertations: John Hader in 2011 at Loyola University in Chicago; and Yasmina Thomas in 2012 at Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island. In 2015 a Center on Transformational OBE in the Philippines was named in his honor. 

In addition, Bill has been a prolific author, including ten professional books; contributed chapters to many other books and lexicons; a host of articles in sociological and educational journals and publications; and as editor of several professional books and newsletters. He takes particular pride in his latest three books: Opening to Greater Realities(2013); Bringing Heart and Soul to Education (2014); and Outcome Based Education’s Empowering Essence (2020). 

Bill calls his decades of consciousness-raising inner work my “Amazing Journey of Spiritual Awakening.” It took form in 1975, deepened and evolved profoundly during the 1990s, and continues unabated to this day. During these 45 years he worked closely with or intensely absorbed the teachings and processes of the Lifespring Organization, Tom Kenyon, Ken Wilber, 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, Nassim Haramein, Katie Rubin, David Maria, and both North and South American shamans. His Opening to Greater Realities book captures four decades of those many ‘Amazing’ consciousness-expanding experiences. Bill continues to explore, integrate, and describe those greater realities in his life, culminating in the three life-changing Courses being offered on this website.

After moving to Colorado in 1991 and learning to ski, at age 67 Bill qualified for the NASTAR ski racing National Championships three years in a row. He now lives on his Christmas tree farm near Portland, Oregon and enjoys cycling, Oregon’s ocean beaches, watching insightful documentaries, and reading anything that expands his awareness and deepens his spirituality. A former symphony trumpeter, Bill loves classical music, symphony concerts, and operas. He still practices regularly and performs with the alumni orchestra of the Portland Youth Philharmonic, where he performed during his high school years.