Devin Gallery Achieves IB Educator Certification, Ready to Share His Expertise

Mr. Devin Gallery, an Individuals and Societies and PHE teacher at GNS, has reached a significant milestone in his career. Gallery, who has been teaching and learning within the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework for nearly two decades, recently received his IB Educators Network (IBEN) certification. This prestigious certification allows him to facilitate aspiring IB educators in workshops that guide in IB methodology best practice.

The purpose of IBEN is to support the IB community by facilitating professional development and quality assurance within IB schools. Members of IBEN hold various roles based on their training. This includes workshop leaders, examiners, school visitors, curriculum reviewers and more. 

“Members of IBEN play a crucial role in upholding the standards of IB programs worldwide. They contribute to training educators, evaluating schools, ensuring consistency in assessments and sharing best practices. In my case I am now an official IB workshop leader, which means I can travel globally to teach IB workshops for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP), this covers kindergarten through Grade 10,” he said. 

Gallery’s journey to this accomplishment began in 2006 when he took his first teaching role at an IB school in Shanghai, after completing his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology. 

“I began my journey toward teaching in 2002 while studying Kinesiology during my undergrad. Around that time, I got involved in a program called Kinder Skills, which focused on play-based learning with children.” This sparked his passion for working with kids, especially since childhood obesity was becoming a growing concern in schools, and play-based learning seemed like an important solution. In that, it became clear to Gallery that he wanted to pursue education.

“After graduating in May 2006, I was at a crossroads. I had been accepted into a Master’s of Education program in Australia, but I also received a job offer from an IB school in Shanghai. My older brother, who had moved to Shanghai the year before to work at the same school, encouraged me to take the opportunity. So, I graduated in May and by July, I was living in Shanghai. It all happened so quickly! At the same time, I was also heavily involved in music and even started a band with two fellow Canadians.”

His early experiences teaching PYP ignited a passion for IB education and its student-centered philosophy. “I didn’t know much about IB at the time,” he recalls, “but I loved the values, the idea of conceptual learning and the attributes of the learner profile. It was like being a sponge, soaking up everything I could learn.”

Gallery spent 15 years teaching in Shanghai, where he held various roles, including PYP Coordinator, Literacy Coach and District Curriculum Coordinator. During this time, he became deeply connected to the IB framework and values, which inspired him to continue his professional development.

“While I was in Shanghai, I also met my wife Tatomme. She spent two years at the Junior  School at GNS as an Educational Assistant from 2021 to 2023. Starting this school year she is now teaching Grade 1 after the recent retirement of Jill Graham. She was at UBC last year, finishing her education degree, and then the Grade 1 job came up, which was perfect timing.”

After moving to Victoria with his wife in 2021, Gallery began teaching at GNS as a member of the Senior School, where he now works with Grade 9, 10 and 11 students. His dedication to growth and education has culminated in his IBEN certification, a recognition achieved by only 100 educators in IB America’s region each year. This certification qualifies Gallery to lead IB workshops, teaching other educators how to implement and refine the practices in their schools. 

“Becoming IBEN certified is a significant moment for me and something I’ve been working toward for years. I don’t say this often but, I’m proud of this achievement and believe it will greatly enhance my abilities as an educator. It’s very fulfilling to have the opportunity to guide and support fellow educators on their own learning journeys.”

The IBEN certification process, which involves an eight-week program, emphasizes a growth mindset–something Gallery is passionate about. “Even though I’ve been teaching for years, I’m constantly learning something new every day. No matter how much experience I have, I believe it’s essential to avoid the mindset of having mastered everything. As educators, we need to stay current with best practices.”

For Gallery, the impact of his newfound certification goes beyond personal achievement. He views it as an opportunity to improve his teaching and positively influence his students’ holistic development. “There’s more to education than just grades and success criteria. I want my students to focus on how they treat others and demonstrate their understanding in ways that play to their strengths.”

As Gallery looks ahead to another year of teaching at GNS, he reflects on his core teaching philosophy and shares an important message for his students and colleagues: “I don’t believe in prescribing one way of learning for everyone. I’m passionate about giving students agency and co-constructing their learning experience. That way, they take ownership of their education. Building relationships with students as people first is crucial. How can I expect them to learn if I don’t acknowledge them as humans before focusing on academics? That’s what I want to focus on this year.”

With his IBEN certification in hand, Gallery is ready to make a broader impact in the world of IB education, helping students and fellow educators reach their full potential.