Barbara Cantisano graduated with a degree in English and Spanish Translation and Instruction from Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she was born and raised. Between 1990 and 1999 she worked as an Educator in Washington DC, Barcelona-Spain, Chicago, New York and San Francisco. She also held positions in International Relations at the US & Foreign Commercial Service in Barcelona and the United Nations Development Programme in New York City.

Between 1999 and 2012 she was the Executive Director of Central Avenue Bilingual Preschool in Charlotte, NC, where she was responsible for the academic, fiscal and legal aspects of the non-profit organization. She raised over $3 million through grants from public and private foundations, government agencies and private donors. She created a bilingual early-literacy ESL Art Studio and supervised the creation of the Parent Education Program, early interventions and therapies. She managed the State Licensing process and obtained the NC temporary license before her departure.

In 2013 she joined Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and is currently the Early Literacy Program Manager. There, she helps address gaps in service by designing and leading initiatives for children, families and educators, with a focus on Bilingual Education, Family Literacy and pre-K services.

Barbara has served on multiple task forces, boards and advisory committees for Read Charlotte, the Cato School of Education at UNCC, NC Pre K, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, Covenant Child Development Center and Trinity Episcopal School. She has published multiple articles for Ventana Mágica and Charlotte Parent magazines, and has presented at several state and national conferences.

She holds an additional degree in Organizational Communication and Spanish from Queens University of Charlotte. She lives in Charlotte with her husband John and dog Bravo, while their son is attending college at UNC Wilmington.