Samantha Speaks LLC

I am a creative writing educator with a passion for human behavior and genuine concern the mental health of my students. My speciality is poetry, though I can teach all genres. For 10 years, I taught poetry to actors-in-training at the Juilliard School in New York City. I also served as a writer in residence at the Bronx Academy of Letters, where I taught creative writing and journalism seminars to students in 6-12th grade. I was also an artist in residence at City School of the Arts in lower Manhattan; there, I taught creative writing to grades 6-8. I taught poetry to high school artists for Cooper Union's Saturday program.

My teaching style is interactive in an iron fist, sunny glove kind of way. I create a comfortable, fun and brave container for students to share their most vulnerable works but I emphasize that the experience is one of their co-creation. I create a family atmosphere in a learning environment by making everyone feel safe, seen and valued. I always bring in the works of other writers to inspire them through discussion and instruction. I then give them in class writing prompts, and I write along with them. Class usually ends with an optional open mic which builds trust, confidence, and community.

Finalist- June Jordan Fellowship st Colombia University Funds for Teachers Travel Grant to Cuba Jerome Foundation Travel Grant Brooklyn Council of the Arts Grant Henry Hoyns Fellowship- University of Virginia Mart P. Hill Honors Thesis Award- Florida State University

Bachelors in English / Creative Writing from Florida State University with a minor in Black Studies MFA in Poetry from the University of Virginia

I am the author of 10 children's books from Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, Lee & Low Books, and others. My poetry collection, The Animated Universe, was published last year in the UK by Peepal Tree Press. At present, I am in the process of rolling out a series of self awareness workbooks called the Black Unicorn Journals. The titel is inspired by the poet Audre Lorde.