- Stevie
Introductions in order
Welcome to BYJCS.com. Teaching, writing, photography, music and technology have all been a part of my life, and I’m hoping to share my experience and point of view with you. Below is some information about me, and the tabs above explain all the services I offer.
I’ve been a middle school humanities teacher since 2005, mostly at small Catholic School in Seattle, and also for a year at an independent school in Maui. Before that, well, since I started teaching at 22, there isn’t much before that. For what it’s worth, I have a degree in journalism, which I used to write and edit for local newspapers, including a simple weekly column in The Seattle Times back in the early 2000s, and a glamorous stint in corporate communications with the Bellevue Department of Transportation. I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I became an editor at Seattle University’s Spectator newspaper. Working with writers one on one inspired me to empower young people to use their words effectively and for the good of all. I currently teach middle school and help supervise boarding students at Maui Preparatory Academy in Napili.
Since December of 2015, I have seriously pursued a career as a novelist, and am planning on publishing my first book by Christmas of 2019. In two sentences, this novel follows a young Catholic mother who baptizes her child in an America where organized religion has been outlawed. It contains a parallel storyline of an ambitious but conflicted field agent trying to track down a mother and child who have illegally conducted the sacrament. Ultimately, the book is about relationships, and as I’m finding out, it’s a very close representation of my relationship with God and religion. I’ll post updates on the writing process as I near the finish line.
Years back, I worked as a photographer for my dad’s independent business. While he specialized in wall portraits of families and individuals, my fascination has always been with trees, rocks and water. I’m a glutton for nature, and within that realm, my eye has always been drawn to the majesty of color (or absence of color), circumstance, pattern, perspective, story, and space.
Lastly, the musician. I’m no pro, but I can carry a tune, I’ve written maybe 30 songs — which is 30 more than a lot of people — and I play the guitar like a total beginner. I love jamming jam sessions, especially with my middle school students since they’re less intimidating, most of the time. I have a year of classical vocal training, though I tend to sing with a more soulful, rock, reggae vibe.
There you have it. Now that you know a little background, please check a tab up top for specific services I offer in each category. At some point, I’ll add website content management to the list. Yeah, I’m also a tech geek. Thanks for making it all the way to the end of my bio! My ego is humbled by your attention.