Hi, I don’t remember a time in my life that I haven’t loved poetry so I am thrilled to participate in my first poetry marathon. I teach secondary English courses – AP Literature, Creative Writing, and Junior English – and am an adjunct at the local community college. I have journals full of poetry and I self-published a book of poetry after teaching a writing course through the Greater Kansas City Writing Project. What else? I have two grown sons and will celebrate 27 years of marriage this July. In 2015, I earned my doctorate in educational leadership. I co-founded a non-profit (www.babygrace.org) and am currently a local site director.

I am an avid reader  (I am at 27 books for the year – goal is 75) and tea drinker. My current favorite poets are Billy Collins (his Facebook Live videos during quarantine have been amazing) and Mary Oliver who asked us “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” and finally, “light/is an invitation/to happiness,/and that happiness/when it’s done right,/is a kind of holiness,/palpable and redemptive.”

I look forward to writing with you and hope we find just the right words to express what we are feeling.

Anne