Life-changing, humorous, insights: Award-winning teacher

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After more than 30 years in western suburban classrooms, award-winning teacher and author Ellen Jo Ljung has some stories to tell, stories that helped shape her career and transformed her vision for the future of education.

Ljung shares her life-changing and often humorous insights in a newly-published memoir, Tales Told Out of School: Lessons Learned by the Teacher.

Ljung will discuss and sign copies of her memoir from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at the Geneva Public Library, 227 S. 7th Street. Books can be purchased from Harvey’s Tales in Geneva, or Politics & Prose online, www.politics-prose.com.

An experienced storyteller, Ljung’s collection of vignettes capture the highs and lows of more than three decades in education, from her first challenging job [the one that nearly derailed her career] to her later efforts with safe schools and problem-based learning. Lessons Ljung learned along the way from students, colleagues, and parents, will strike a chord with anyone who has ever attended school.

“Tales Told Out of School raises important questions for teachers, administrators and those who care for them about the nature of teaching, the challenges of work in schools, particularly as a woman, and what it takes to truly master an incredibly demanding profession. Ljung’s wit, humility and humor bring to life the experience of the classroom at an all too-important moment in our history,” said Bob Regan, director of education at Gates Ventures.

Don Fraynd, Transeo CEO and former director of Chicago Public Schools Turnaround Office, said Ljung’s memoir masterfully weaves lessons learned through a series of vignettes.

“Ljung’s memoir is a storytelling tour de force!” Fraynd said.

A Geneva resident since 1979, Ljung is the author of two textbooks on teaching writing with computers and more than two dozen articles. A trailblazer in problem-based learning, Ljung developed and taught a course that became a model for a State innovation program. Ljung helped bring gay/straight alliances to her school district and is a co-founder of the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, www.ilsafeschools.org.

When she isn’t busy reading and writing, Ljung and her husband of 54 years, Donovan, create art glass sold in galleries and travel the world to enjoy the kayak world and have done so on five continents. Ljung is a volunteer advocate for abused and neglected children and is active in local politics. Her blog is at www.imwriter.com and reach her at imwriter@imwriter.com.

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