Often educators’ creativity spills over into a book, blog, app or other work. We’re happy to showcase members’ talents.
Professor Turned Author
Jacqueline Wall retired as a Chaffey
College professor in 2015. Since then, the CTA/NEA-Retired member has published two self-help books based on her life experiences. A Happy Kid Is Not a Bully is a guilt-free plan for parents’ greatest legacy, with tips, steps and suggestions to raise a happy kid, not a bully. I’m Prettier Than That depicts how Wall survived domestic violence, and how others can end abusive relationships. Both are on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
Helping Kids Cope
Fifth-grade teacher Sarah Cruz and school counselor Carmen Wandel, both member leaders of Wright Educators Association, found few resources that deal with the thoughts and feelings children go through when they have a family member who is incarcerated. So, they did something about it by writing You Are Not Alone, a new book to support those students and families going through this unique experience. Stories and discussion questions help children cope with loneliness, anger, worry, shame and more, and let them understand that there are others who are going through what they are and feel the same. On Amazon.
Cinematic Vampires
Forrest Pearson, a high school English teacher and member of Grizzly Education Association has written Hollywood Vampire. In the fast-paced short story, John Van Cruz is an aspiring actor who receives the opportunity of a lifetime until he discovers a secret cabal of vampires. Hollywood Vampire satirizes the predatory nature of the movie industry and explores themes such as individuality versus conformity. On Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
The Art of Teaching
When COVID hit in 2020 Art McMahon, a Lake Elsinore Teachers Association member, had to teach his middle school art class entirely on Zoom. The semester of lessons and artwork he created became a series of three books in the summer of 2021. The books, all titled Art: Methods and Techniques: A series for teachers, parents and students contain 18 middle school lessons that can be taught in any order in person or online and equal a semester of learning. McMahon, who has more than 30 years’ experience integrating art, science and math, stresses variety, a focus on differing methods and techniques and on using a minimum of resources. On Amazon, and also Teacher Pay Teachers as a complete semester course or as individual lessons.
