I am a humanities educator, free-lance writer, editor, and tutor. I have nearly two decades of experience teaching middle and upper-school English in an all-girls, internationally diverse boarding school and in a co-educational independent day school. In recent years, I expanded my teaching range with United States history, human geography, and drama. But my previous three years were spent teaching American Literature to English 11 AP and non AP students, as well as special topics courses to college-bound seniors and college freshman. I also write and publish literature classroom guides and creative nonfiction, placed in such venues as The Hopper and the Great Lakes Review.
One of my greatest joys is getting to play a variety of roles along side teaching. The best of these has been leading experiential seminars on topics such as film history, railroad history, and the world of backstage theater.
My other favorite role has been directing middle-school plays. The process of directing seems to engage perfectly all of my interests and talents, from writing to performing to singing and playing the piano. There is truly nothing like working with young actors toward a common goal, constructing stage sets, modifying and embellishing costumes, and performing for a live audience. Moreover, I enjoy watching all of us deepen, develop, and gain a valuable sense of self-esteem from work well done. It’s a perfect opportunity to help young teenagers clarify their confusions and shifting emotions, and to channel productively their desire to be noticed and appreciated.
Candace R. Craig 