Partial CV
EDUCATION
- Master of Arts in English Studies – May 2010
- Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Concentration and an Illinois Initial Certificate in English/Language Arts, High School with a Middle School endorsement – May 2006
WRITING EXPERIENCE
Opinion Writing
- Opinion Writer, The Guardian – 2013-2014
Freelance Copywriting/Copyediting
- Ethos Content – 2011-2012; 2013-Present
- Textbroker International – 2010-2011
Blogging
- Teaching Tolerance Blogger – 2011-Present
- SmallStrokesBigOaks.com Owner and Writer – 2009-Present
- Care2 Causes Blogger – 2012-2014
- Gender Across Borders Senior Editor – 2011-2012; Staff Writer – January 2012-April 2012
- Equality101.net Founder and Contributor – 2010-2011
- Witur.com Blogger – 2009-2010
Selected Published Work, Print
- Samsa, Ashley Lauren. “Banned Books Can Be a Tool for Addressing Race.” Banned Books, edited by Marcia Amidon Lusted, Greenhaven Publishing, 2018, pp. 40–43.
- The Gentle Catalyst – Teaching Tolerance Magazine Feature Article – Number 46: Spring 2014
Selected Published Work, Digital (View the entire list here.)
- Sheer Luck Shouldn’t Be the Only Thing Stopping Our Students From Dying – Education Week Teacher – May 23, 2018
- Discussing Sexual Harassment in the Classroom – Teaching Tolerance – November 30, 2017
- These Women of Color Belong on Your High School Reading List – We Are Teachers – February 27, 2017
- The Women’s March on Washington Was as Educational as It Was Inspiring – Ms. Magazine Blog – January 31, 2017
- For My Students, The Women’s March Is Just the Beginning – Teaching Tolerance – January 27, 2017
- A Crafty Way to Support the Women’s March – Ms. Magazine Blog – January 12, 2017
- The Benefits of Blended Learning – Teaching Tolerance – October 19, 2016
- How Can Hillary Win the Teachers’ Vote? One Educator Says It Involves the “Village,” Not the Common Core – The Broad Side – May 11, 2015
- Americans are becoming numb to gun violence. For teachers, it’s all too real – The Guardian – January 23, 2014
- I welcome Common Core education standards, but let’s not forget creativity – The Guardian – September 3, 2013
- Keep the guns out of my classroom – The Guardian – August 23, 2013
- Enough with the teacher bashing. It’s not helping students or anyone else – The Guardian – July 11, 2013
- Why I’m not letting tragedies stop me from having kids – Offbeat Families – May 16, 2013
- Say no to armed guards in schools – The Guardian – February 20, 2013
- Suburban Teen Girls Draft a List of their Favorite Feminist Celebrities – Bitch Magazine Blog – February 1, 2013
- Why My Students Don’t Need Armed Guards – In These Times – January 31, 2013
- ‘Rape Culture’ Lives Close to Home – Teaching Tolerance – January 24, 2013
- It’s Not Can We Have it All, It’s Should We? – BlogHer – August 23, 2012
- Julia Alvarez’s Loving Tribute to Haiti – Ms. Magazine Blog – May 14, 2012
- Women – And Men – Aren’t “Born” Teachers – Ms. Magazine Blog – December 23, 2011
- Feminist-Friendly Marriages on Television… Or Not – Feministe – December 6, 2011
- 7 Billion Means You Can Stop Asking When I’m Having A Baby – The Huffington Post – November 3, 2011
Featured Blogger and Featured Posts
- One of the Top 10 Articles of 2013 on the Bitch Magazine Blog, December 2013
- Featured post on Jezebel, February 3, 2013
- Featured Writer on The OpEd Project’s Byline Blog, July 2012
- Featured Blogger on BlogHer’s Love & Sex page, July 2011
- Featured post on BlogHer’s Love & Sex page, July 2011
- Featured post on Blogher’s homepage, November 2010
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
- Secondary English, Chicago, IL Area (Suburbs) – 2008-Present
- Taught English 1 GAP, English 2, English 2 Honors, English 3, and English 4 AP
- Secondary English, Central Illinois – 2006-2008
- Taught Basic English 1, English 2, English 3, and Creative Writing
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
- Developed and Revised Curriculum for 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 School Years
- Tournament Manager, Speech Tournament – Fall 2015 and 2016
- Conference Chair, Conference Speech Tournament – Winter 2012
- Developed English 2 Curriculum for 2011-2012 School Year
- Conference Chair, Conference Contest Play and Group Interpretation Tournament – Spring 2011
- Subject Area Committee Member – 2010-2012
- Content Area Leadership – 2010-2011
- Academy Team Leader – 2009-2011
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
- Assistant Varsity Speech Coach 2013-Present
- Fearless Females Sponsor – 2011-Present
- Drama Club and Contest Play Sponsor – 2007-2008, 2010-2012
- Gay-Straight Alliance Sponsor – 2009-2010
- “Impressions” Literary Magazine Sponsor – 2006-2008
CONFERENCE AND CAMP PRESENTATIONS
- Day of the Girl Camp Leader – Fall 2015, Spring 2016 – Lead a group of junior high girls in activities and discussions about social bullying, media literacy, body image, career choices, and empowerment
- Feminism in the Midwest Panel Discussion – June 2013 – Served as a panelist discussing the differences in regional feminisms
- Connections Project – March 2011, Illinois State University – Delivered a presentation about Literacy and Blogging in the Classroom
- Contemporary Women’s Writing Network – July 2010, San Diego State University – Delivered a presentation about Literacy in the Feminist Blogging Community
- Engage – June 2010, Chicago, IL Suburbs – Delivered a presentation about Literacy and Blogging in the Classroom
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Tongue & Ink Undergraduate Creative Writing Conference Chair – Springs 2005-06
- Research Assistant, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL – Summers 2003-05
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
- The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer – 2004-2011
UNDERGRADUATE HONORS AND LEADERSHIP INVOLVEMENT
- Tributaries Creative Arts Magazine, Assistant Co-Editor/Co-Editor, 2004-05/2005-06
- Writing Circle, Founder and Leader, 2003-05
- Flute Choir, Founder and Leader, 2002-05
- Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society, Treasurer, Fall 2004
- Kappa Delta Pi Education Honors Society
- Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honors Society
- Published in three Tributaries Magazines
- Dean’s List – all semesters
For a complete CV and a list of references, e-mail ashleylaurensamsa@gmail.com.
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