Joan C. Tornow

My lifetime passion has been writing, plus teaching writing. I've written nonfiction, fiction, and memoir, and have taught all of these as well. And, I've taught every age group, from Head Start toddlers through seniors. Currently, I serve as a Writer-in-Residence for a third grade class in a diverse community SW of Seattle. I also serve on the Editorial Board of the Federal Way Mirror and on the Board of Communities In Schools of Federal Way.

My website: www.writingmemoir.com

Please also check out my blog: joantornow.com

Having attended the Antioch School as a child, and later Antioch College and Bank Street College, I have a lifetime interest in progressive education and education reform. I'm an advocate of the educational theories and philosophy of John Dewey.

Writing is how I make sense of the world, at least to the best of my ability on any given day. In my volunteer work, my goal is to introduce children to writing as a way to think, to create, and to develop a lifelong sense of personal agency.

On a personal note, I love my husband, my sons, my dog, cooking, photography, sitcoms w/o laugh tracks, films, books, and gardening. I'm a member of a Unitarian Church.

Credential: M.S. in Education, Bank Street College, NYC

Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction, Literacy, University of Texas at Austin