Introducing Katie Quinn!

My new position is at Roeper's Upper School campus, where I will be teaching English courses full time. This year, I am teaching three sections of 9th grade American literature, and I am also teaching two sections of creative writing. I also plan to partner with Matt, the 9th grade history teacher, so we can prepare freshmen for their field trip to Washington D.C., pandemic permitting. 

2.    What were one or two highlights of your life?

One significant moment in my life is the first time I was published in a literary magazine. When I was 19 years old, two of my poems were selected for publication in BAC Street Journal. To make it even more exciting, BAC Street Journal invited all of the authors to read their work during a public celebration of the release of the magazine at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago, which is the headquarters for their publication. It was exciting to not only tour Chicago for the first time that weekend, but to also meet the editors of the magazine and read my work on stage during the Beverly Arts Center's celebration. 

3.    If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why? 

I've always wanted to visit Hawaii, so I would absolutely love to live there, too! The semi-tropical weather appeals to me, and I imagine residents feel as though they are living on vacation all year-round. 

4.    What are some things you'd like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace?

I am Michigan born and raised, so I know the Oakland and Macomb County area intimately. My family consists of my husband (married since 2015) and our elderly cat, Dora. I also love spending time with my parents and my brother, Matthew. 

5.    What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? 

When I am not working, I enjoy curling up with a good book. I am open to any texts, but my favorite genres are fiction (especially contemporary), young adult, poetry, and memoir. I also enjoy playing the Nintendo Switch, especially since many of the new games are nostalgic remakes of my favorite childhood games, such as Animal Crossing and Pokemon. When I have the opportunity, I also enjoy attending concerts, whether it be to support local bands at venues such as The Loving Touch in Ferndale or attending a major venue such as Little Caesars Arena when one of my favorite rock/alternative bands is in town. Other than that, I try to spend as much time as possible with my family and my friends; my husband and I especially enjoy finding and supporting new restaurants and local businesses! 

6.    What is a topic or skill that you love to teach or share and why?  

This might be the obvious response, but I am truly passionate about teaching literature. Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved reading, and to this day I enjoy trips to the bookstore that end in purchasing a stack of novels that towers well above my knees. I love everything about teaching literature; I love how I discover something new every time I reread a book, and in that vein, I love how my students always vocalize something that I had never previously considered, as well. Teaching literature is also so personal to me because it's often a reflection of our own selves and our own identities and self-growth, and I love when students tell me about how they connected with a text or a character on a visceral, personal level. I love watching the expression that splashes on a student's face when they've had an "ah-ha" revelation/moment, and I love when the book is so good that even the quietest student is eager to raise their hand and jump in on the conversation. I also love uncovering the historical context of a book with students just as much as I love making connections about how a novel written within the past can still have ramifications, even in our present day. 

7.    What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job?

I love Roeper's flexibility when it comes to the curriculum; teachers and students truly are empowered to have their own voice here, and I am excited to translate that into many fun and creative electives in the future, whether that be something like a supernatural literature course, or a science fiction dystopian class; the options feel infinite, like endless reams of white paper. I truly know of no other school that gives their students so much autonomy inside and outside the classroom, and that's important to me because I too believe that students should be encouraged to have complete control over their own futures and their own lives. I also love Roeper's emphasis on social justice and equal rights, which is particularly significant for me as an English teacher because reading and discussing literature fosters wonderful opportunities for engaging with social justice; the freedom Roeper offers to craft a reading syllabus that highlights and supports marginalized narratives and voices will also enable me and my students to have constructive conversations about social justice and equal representation within the literary canon.