Sociology alum driven to nurture representation

The group of children alongside her—students from the nearby Montessori-based school where she taught—giggled at the sight, sensing her uneasiness. As an educator, James-Outerbridge knew she had an example to set. “Not bringing my own biases into a classroom setting was one way of helping life unfold,” she shares.

Twenty-seven years later, James-Outerbridge’s extensive teaching career has, in turn, awarded her invaluable lessons—from adaptability and social responsibility, to the importance of representation and life-long learning. “Education is truly the one concept that can bring about a social cohesion that binds humanity together,” she says. “I believe that peace in this world begins with education.”

A sense of accomplishment

James-Outerbridge is a seventh-generation Canadian from East Preston, N.S. Her upbringing was filled with happy memories—from picking fresh blueberries for her Granny’s blueberry duff dessert and playing hide-and-seek at the Boys and Girls Club, to Christmas seasons with family members sleeping just about everywhere.

But in the classroom, things weren’t always so happy. “My experience in elementary school was tainted by red marks, low expectations and being ignored,” she shares, adding that she had a difficult time making connections, and often felt not seen or heard. She later attended Dalhousie University, undergoing a degree in sociology and social anthropology. It was during that time that she learned to see things in a new way.

James-Outerbridge also began connecting with other Black Canadian students, sharing “Dalhousie’s Black Student Advising Centre became a hub for connection, representation, and support.”

New learnings

After earning her undergraduate degree, James-Outerbridge was unsure of her next move. She had considered law school, and with educators in her family, had mulled over becoming a public-school teacher, but knew she wasn’t drawn to traditional schooling. 

That’s when a visit to the Halifax Public Library gave her a chance encounter with a flyer for the Toronto Montessori Institute—and something clicked. “I knew this type of education would have served me well as a child,” says James-Outerbridge of the self-directed, hands-on method of learning. “I believe it’s how all children should be educated.”

After undergoing her Montessori Teacher Training, her career as an educator began in Mississauga, Ont. In 2000, James-Outerbridge, her husband, and their then six-month-old son moved to Bermuda, where she dedicated 18 years to a local school before transitioning to a smaller school focused on neurodiverse adolescents. 

An agent of change

Driven to make a difference, James-Outerbridge shares that her life’s purpose is rooted in nurturing transformation and working toward building resilience and collaboration. “It guides my motivation for reform, social justice and inclusion.”

But coming home to Bermuda is always a gift. “Living life at a slower pace here—it’s made me appreciate the things in life that really matter,” she says. “And it doesn’t hurt to see turquoise water, pink sand and palm trees at every turn.”

Recently, James-Outerbridge has added board member for the Dalhousie Alumni Association (DAA) to her list of accomplishments, where she helps to engage Dal’s 160,000+ alumni around the world, providing advice on a range of issues, and supporting the objectives of Dalhousie’s Office of Advancement.

“It’s meaningful, rewarding, purposeful work,” she says. “Joining the DAA was the perfect opportunity for creative leadership and mentorship.”

Looking ahead, she adds that she hopes to create an active group of Dalhousie alumni in the Caribbean, to collaborate and support one another, and to encourage young locals who may consider attending Dalhousie. “I had such a rewarding experience at Dal—and want to share that by bringing worlds together.”