Career Highlights
This student-voice centered programming develops students’ written & oral literacy, critical & creative thinking, and literary analysis, while building academic self-esteem. It helps to develop empathy and classroom community, helps students to feel heard/seen and provides a healthy outlet for students’ emotions. It is self-discovery, rather than the typical model of self-selection.
Along the way, it meets 23 middle school and 28 high school Common Core state standards, as well as five out of six CCS Portrait of a Graduate attributes. There’s also a professional development component for teachers as well.
Project Creator
I love creating things that previously hadn’t been conceived of. I’ve been fortunate to partner with amazing people and organizations along the way. I look forward to building new projects that amplify student voices, empower educators and help make the world more poetic and empathetic.
2019 | Chicago & London
The Youth Poet Laureate International Exchange
Learn More: Poetry Society | Poetry Foundation
2017 - 2019
The Golden Shovel Anthology: New Poems Honoring Gwendolyn Brooks
Commissioned to create a Golden Shovel lesson for Poetry Out Loud; The International Golden Shovel Anthology launch at the British Library with Terrance Hayes and Patricia Smith as special guests. Participated in the international student poetry competition which led to a second edition of the anthology.
Learn More: Poetry Out Loud
2013-2015 | Roosevelt University & Concordia University
The Spoken Word Education graduate seminar
2012 | The University of London
The Spoken Word Education Training Programme as a Visiting Fellow at Goldsmiths
Learn More: The Guardian | YouTube | YouTube
2010 | Chicago
The Motivational Mentorship program at OPRFHS
2003 | Chicago
The Spoken Word Educator position and three-tiered Spoken Word Program at OPRFHS
International poetry exchanges with students from inner-London and Chicago Public Schools (Manley High School, Austin Polytechnical High School, John Hay Community School, Urban Prep High School and Sherman Elementary).
Learn More: Austin Review
2003 | Chicago
Malika’s Poetry Kitchen
2002 | London
The London Teenage Poetry Slam
Learn More: Nick Makoha
1999 | Chicago
Spoken Word Club at OPRFHS
Learn More: Chicago Tribune | Newcity
2022 - Present | Columbus, OH
Spoken Word Educator/Educational Consultant
Learn More: Centennial High School | Beyond the Canvas
2003 - 2022 | Chicago
Spoken Word Educator/English Teacher
Oak Park and River Forest High School
Learn More: Chicago Tribune | English Journal | Discover Muscatine
2003 - Present | England & United States
Guest Lecturer
Oxford University-UK, Northwestern University, DePaul University, the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Columbia College, Dominican University, the University of Wisconsin
2017 - Present | England
Workshop Leader
English and Media Centre (UK) and Poetry Foundation Teacher Institutes (in-person and virtual)
Summers 2004 - 2021 | England
Workshop Leader (live and virtual)
For Spread the Word, Apples & Snakes, the English and Media Centre, Writerz and Scribez, Forward Arts Foundation and elsewhere in the UK and for the 2 Cents Movement in Trinidad and Tobago.
Learn More: Writers & Scribez | Ashlee Burnett
Educator
I began teaching in 1990 at a social service organization–Jobs for Youth/Chicago–and it has been a wonderful ride ever since. My home base has been Oak Park and River Forest High School, but I’ve taught in over fifty schools in Chicago, Columbus and London along the way, as well as at several universities including as a Visiting Fellow at Goldsmiths-University of London.
More Info:
With Penny Kittle/Kelly Gallagher
With Penny Kittle & Micah Daniels
