Creative Writing High School

TEACHER / WRITER / EDITOR

A teacher, writer, and editor with deep Chicago roots and extensive experience and success in the English literature classroom.

PROFESSIONAL STRENGTHS INCLUDE:

●Close Reading

●Analytical Essay

●Creative Writing

●Resume, Cover Letter, LinkedIn Profile Writing

●Literary Analysis

●Student Advising

●College Essay Coaching

●Curriculum Development

EXPERIENCE

WRITING PROSE / Chicago, IL 2018-Present

Founder and Head Writer / Editor

Create content for individuals, organizations. Write, edit articles for 501(c)3 and for-profit businesses. Coach, consult writers through short fiction, novels, novellas, memoirs, creative nonfiction manuscripts. Lead workshops in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. Teach writing and close reading workshops. Review, edit master’s theses, MFA applications, creative writing program applications. Critical/Analytical and Academic writing coach for high school and university students. Coach college essayists from idea generation through final draft. Write resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, bios.

●Professional Development Workshop for College Essay Coaches, NYC STEM Club December, 2023

●Policy Writer for Alderman Sophia King’s Mayoral Campaign (2022)

●Edited Northwestern University School of Professional Studies distinguished thesis award-winning thesis.

●Developed successful college essay coaching method, coaching local and international college applicants through college essay writing process.

●Successfully reviewed and edited small business license applicants for minority-owned businesses.

●Provided reading and writing enrichment courses to students disrupted by Covid-19 pandemic.

NORTH SHORE COLLEGE CONSULTANTS / Highland Park, IL February 2024-Present

College Essay Coach

NYC STEM Club / New York, NY December 2023-Present

College Essay Coach

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY / Evanston, IL Spring 2024-Present

Fiction Workshop Instructor, MFA in Creative Writing Program

TRINITY H.S. / River Forest, IL January 2022-Present

English Teacher

Teach freshman English, senior English, sophomore English with focus on close reading, critical thinking, research paper, essay writing. Implemented scaffolded writing program for students across diverse backgrounds—racial, educational, religious, ethnic, religious, socioeconomic. Focus on close reading, critical inquiry, creative thinking, analysis, research, drafting, and revision. Teach Public Speaking, Marketing. Founder One Book One Trinity (OBOT), all-school reading and discussion initiative. Inaugural OBOT book: Toya Wolfe’s Last Summer on State Street. Present College Application Personal Essay (CAPE) workshop. Create CAPE curriculum unit. Coach seniors through CAPE experience.

BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY / Lisle, IL 2020

Adjunct Professor

Taught freshman composition course (WRIT 1101) and Introduction to Creative Writing (LITR 2269). Tough college-level writing instruction for students from a great variety of academic, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

LAUREL SPRINGS SCHOOL / Ojai, CA 2020

Taught American Literature, Honors American Literature, World Literature, Honors World Literature, Creative Writing, English Fundamentals, Honors English Fundamentals

POLYPHONY LIT / Evanston, IL 2003-2020

Founder, Managing Editor

Created non-profit student-run, international literary magazine for high school writers and editors. Managed global editorial staff of more than 300 high school editors. Created curriculum for face-to-face and online editorial development program for fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Led editorial development workshops. Produced annual print-turned online literary magazine. Led fund-raising efforts, wrote annual appeals. Wrote “Letter from the Managing Editor” introductions for annual print/online edition, selected cover art, copyedited issues, organized readings, fundraisers, friend-raisers, literary salons, issue launches. Served as president of board of directors.

LATIN SCHOOL OF CHICAGO / Chicago, IL 2003-2018

English Teacher

Taught Modern American Literature, English 10, English 9. Designed/implemented skills-based curricula with a focus on critical and creative thinking, close reading, precise/essential writing and revision. Designed and taught Chicago Literature, The Short Story, Great World Novels, Great Novella, Creative Process, Senior Writing Seminar, Writer’s Workshop. Director, English 9 Literature Program. Interim English Department Chair. Created/Directed annual literary festival. Created/Instituted/Directed MLK Day of Service and Assembly.

Founding Director, Writing Center. Primary focus on college-level writing instruction, interdisciplinary writing.

GLOBAL ONLINE ACADEMY / Seattle, WA 2014-2015

Creative Writing Instructor, Fiction

Designed, taught inaugural fiction course.

ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY / Chicago, IL 2012-2013

Writer in Residence

Taught fiction III and short fiction collection courses.

BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY / Lisle, IL 2012-2013

Artist in Residence

Taught short story course.

PUBLICATIONS

BOOKS

Nonfiction

The C.A.P.E. Crusade: Your Guide to a Great College Application Personal Essay 2022

Fiction

Morning Will Come, (orig. published as How to Hold a Woman) Tortoise Books 2019

The Man with Two Arms, Overlook Press 2010

How to Hold a Woman, OV Books 2009

The Logic of a Rose: Chicago Stories, BkMk Press 2005

Poetry/Essays

Meanwhile, Roxy Mourns, EM Press 2009

STORIES, ESSAYS, etc. (Recent)

“We Were Hearing New Sounds in the Condo” / HCE Review 2019

“At Johnnies, After Basketball Practice” / Golden Shovel Anthology, Univ. of Arkansas and Hypertext Review 2019

“The Storm of the Century” / The Coachella Review 2018

“Five Stories about Kenny George: An Apology to Professor X / Hypertext Magazine 2018

“Love Will Not Save You” / Tikkun Magazine, 2017

“Make Your Mother Happy” / The Tishman Review (Tillie Olsen Short Story Award Finalist) 2014

“Shake Hands Like a Man” / The Chicago Reader, Fiction Issue 2014

“Clover” / The Chicago Tribune Printers Row Fiction (Inaugural issue, Nelson Algren Award Winner) 2011

HONORS, ACHIEVEMENTS

Auctioneer, Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Annual Online and Silent Auction, 2023, 2022

Fiction Judge, G.S. Sharat Chandra Prize for Short Fiction (BkMk Press)

Poetry Judge, Northwestern University AWP Intro Awards, 2022

Lisagor Award Finalist, Radio Commentary, City of Big Soldiers

Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts Summer Fellowship

Society of Midland Authors Award, Best Fiction Finalist

Guild Literary Complex Prose Award for Fiction

Chicago Tribune Best Fiction of 2005 Selection

Latin School of Chicago Sabbatical Recipient

G.S. Sharat Chandra Prize for short fiction

Illinois Arts Council Fellowship Award

Nelson Algren Award for Short Fiction

New City Lit 50 (2005)

EDUCATION

WARREN WILSON COLLEGE, MFA Fiction – Swannanoa, NC

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY – Illinois Teaching Certification, River Forest, IL

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO – BA, Communication

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