Dr. Barbara Gamble began her career in education as a teacher in the Kingsport City School System in Kingsport, TN. In that position, she taught different levels including Pre-k, Kindergarten, 1st and 3rd grades with students from diverse backgrounds and varying academic abilities. She taught reading, language arts, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. She tutored high school Algebra and Geometry. While completing her doctorate, she did a quantitative research study of early literacy experiences in Northeast Tennessee Pre-Kindergarten classrooms.
After retiring from public education in 2016, Dr. Gamble accepted an adjunct professor position at the University of the Cumberlands in the Education Department. When the University began the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood degree, Dr. Gamble was the first professor to teach in that program. She created many of the current IECE online courses, and has worked with the Instructional Design team. On October 1, 2020, she accepted an Assistant Professor position at University of the Cumberlands and became the University’s first full-time Early Childhood Professor. In January 2021, Dr. Gamble became a University Supervisor. She works with cooperating teachers and student teachers in the education program to produce high-quality early childhood candidates. She mentors incoming Early Childhood professors.
Dr. Gamble and her husband Ralph reside in Kingsport, Tennessee. She is a member of Bays Mountain Baptist Church where she teaches the toddler Sunday School class. She finds great joy in teaching children lessons and songs about Jesus. She worked with other teachers to create Genesis Bible Study videos for children for Bible Study Fellowship International in 2020-2021.
Dr. Gamble enjoys Bible study, outings with friends, sewing, traveling, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.