About the Poetry Judges and Readers
Meet the Judges
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Jean Kanzinger
Jean Kanzinger is an English and communications teacher at Chagrin Falls High School where she has been the moderator of the high school literary magazine Prism. She has twice attended the Frost Place Conference on Poetry & Teaching at The Frost Place in Franconia, NH. In recent years, Jean has been a writing judge for the Scholastic competition as well as a national judge for NCTE’s literary magazine competition. She has written a blog for Cavankerry Press on teaching poetry and has presented a number of times on teaching poetry at NWP-KSU’s Write Here! Write Now! Conference. Of the “Write Where You Are” entries, Jean said, “It was difficult to select just a few honorees from so many outstanding entries. The high school submissions beautifully blended elegant language and passion for meaningful places.” |
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Dr. Alexa Sandmann
Dr. Alexa Sandmann recently retired from Kent State University as the Director of the School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies, Professor of Literacy, and Director of the National Writing Project at Kent State University. The co-author of two books, she wrote nearly a dozen and half book chapters as well as more than 35 articles and other instructional texts, and has presented at national, regional and state conferences well over a hundred times. Alexa was awed by the depth of feeling shared in so many poems, honed by their honesty and precise word choice. |
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Meet the Poetry Readers
Tricia Springstubb
Tricia is the award-winning author of books for kids of all ages. Her most recent works are the picture book Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures, published by Candlewick Press, and the middle grade novel The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe, published in June 2021 from Holiday House. A frequent speaker at schools, libraries and conferences, Tricia lives in Cleveland Heights. To find out more about her and her work, visit www.triciaspringstubb.com.
Annmarie Kelly-Harbaugh
Annmarie Kelly-Harbaugh is the author of Here Be Dragons: A Parent’s Guide to Rediscovering Purpose, Adventure, and the Unfathomable Joy of the Journey, a memoir about the sweet and wonderful misery of raising children with someone you love. She lives in Cleveland with her husband, three kids, and a marshmallow dog named Higgins. www.annmariekellyharbaugh.com
Laura Grace Weldon
Laura Grace Weldon is the author of four books and was named Ohio Poet of the Year in 2019. Her background includes teaching nonviolence, writing collaborative poetry with nursing home residents, and facilitating support groups for abuse survivors. She currently works as an editor, teaches writing workshops, and maxes out her library card each week. lauragraceweldon.com
Tricia is the award-winning author of books for kids of all ages. Her most recent works are the picture book Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures, published by Candlewick Press, and the middle grade novel The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe, published in June 2021 from Holiday House. A frequent speaker at schools, libraries and conferences, Tricia lives in Cleveland Heights. To find out more about her and her work, visit www.triciaspringstubb.com.
Annmarie Kelly-Harbaugh
Annmarie Kelly-Harbaugh is the author of Here Be Dragons: A Parent’s Guide to Rediscovering Purpose, Adventure, and the Unfathomable Joy of the Journey, a memoir about the sweet and wonderful misery of raising children with someone you love. She lives in Cleveland with her husband, three kids, and a marshmallow dog named Higgins. www.annmariekellyharbaugh.com
Laura Grace Weldon
Laura Grace Weldon is the author of four books and was named Ohio Poet of the Year in 2019. Her background includes teaching nonviolence, writing collaborative poetry with nursing home residents, and facilitating support groups for abuse survivors. She currently works as an editor, teaches writing workshops, and maxes out her library card each week. lauragraceweldon.com
