Tomasen M. Carey is the former Director of the UNH Writers Academy, Field Coordinator for the Learning Through Teaching Program, and Instructor of the New Hampshire Literacy Institutes. Her articles have appeared in the New England Reading Journal and she is the voice behind the blog, conversationeducation.com.
Ashley Healey is the field director of the Writers Academy. Ashley is a National Board-Certified Teacher out of Stratham, New Hampshire. An avid reader and writer, Ashley strives to build strong literacy identities in her students. She believes in student empowerment, finding joy, and being true to oneself. As a strong supporter of ecowellness, Ashley is always looking for ways to infuse nature into her teaching. For the past 9 years, she has engaged in continual professional growth through the Learning Through Teaching program and the Summer Literacy Institutes of the University of New Hampshire. While she spends her school year with our youngest learners, Ashley has enjoyed writing alongside the 5th-8th grade writers at the UNH Writers Academy for the past ten summers.
Whitney Forbes Whitney Forbes is a first-grade teacher in Stratham, NH. Over the past fourteen years, she has taught diverse learners at the elementary level with an emphasis on literacy, advocacy, equity, and joy. Through inquiry and play, Whitney helps to develop her students' literary identities. Engaging in writing and reflection within and outside of the classroom have been powerful tools for Whitney's personal and professional development. She is excited to teach and learn at the Writers Academy alongside other passionate educators, readers, and writers.
Sarah Cook taught middle and high school students in Roxbury and Brookline, MA, as well as rural Vermont. She was also a GED instructor for the Exeter Adult Education program. She currently teaches middle school in Stratham, NH.
Lauren de Constant has been a literacy educator for more than 25 years and loves working with young adults as they develop their individual voices through the power of language. She works to develop a sense of community and unconditional support when teaching writing so that young people can take positive risks and express themselves with confidence. The Writer's Academy is the perfect place for young adults to explore and share ideas while making new friends who also love to write!
Dennis Magliozzi and Kristina Peterson have been teaching English Language Arts in public schools for over fourteen years. Dennis has an MFA in poetry and a PhD in Education from UNH, where his work focused on adolescent literacy, poetry, and school programming. Kristina has a Master’s in Teaching from George Fox University and mentored new teachers for over a decade. They’ve supervised teaching interns at UNH since 2017 and co-teach in NH Summer Literacy Institute. They are co-founders of Bookshelf Diversity, a state-wide grant project designed to bring books from diverse authors and content into the hands of NH students. Dennis and Kristina are Ambassadors for NH’s Racial Unity Team’s Art in Action project.
Mark Holt-Shannon has taught middle school in New Hampshire for more than 10 years. He has published a scattering of essays and stories and works as a freelance photographer in the New Hampshire Seacoast.
Lisa Rockenmacher has taught Language Arts to adolescents and young adults in various educational settings for nearly two decades. She enjoys crafting curriculum that allows for creative engagement and nurtures and encourages the voices of emerging writers. Beyond teaching, reading, and writing, Lisa enjoys walks in the woods, foraging, yoga, and spending time with family, friends, and pets.
