The Missouri Reader Vol. 38, Issue 1 | Page 4

Editors' Expressions

Dear Friends, Readers, and Supporters of The Missouri Reader,

A recent conference where Dr. Ruby Payne spoke about bridges to combat poverty inspired this Editors’ Expressions. She encouraged each family and community to have a future story. While contemplating our future stories, we couldn’t help but look back at where we have come, because it was the unfolding of our life stories that got us here today.

As a little girl, Julie would gather up her dolls, younger sister, and even the neighbors to teach them in her makeshift classroom. She adored going to the public library with her daddy and curling up to read the books with her momma. She loved writing stories, songs, and plays to be performed in front of family members. Teaching, reading, and writing were a part of her life story from her earliest memories.

Julie’s dream to teach was fulfilled in an elementary classroom. She did not imagine teaching at the college level, but God’s plan led her back to her alma mater where she would continue to fulfill her teaching, reading, and writing dream by instilling a passion for these in the hearts and minds of her teacher candidates.

Jennifer’s story, on the other hand, included many twists and turns (and college majors) before realizing her dream. Her teaching career began with sharing her love of literacy with her own children and has led to teaching at the college level, which is a dream that she never thought would come to fruition. But today, we have offices side by side. Our life stories intersected as simultaneous dreams were being fulfilled! Our future stories of teaching, reading, and writing are continuing to unfold as colleagues moving forward in the field of literacy.

Jennifer’s passion for technology took The Missouri Reader from its PDF form to the digital, fully interactive, and beautiful publication you are holding in your hands today. We thank the MSC-IRA board for believing in this endeavor, coming along on this part of our life story, and allowing our vision to become reality! As we look ahead at our future story yet to come, we are certain to find many new opportunities to share our love for teaching, reading, and writing. We thank you for your part in our future stories! Happy Reading!

Julie Bryant and Jennifer Fox

Introducing the new co-editors.......

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