Marilyn Pryle is a National Board certified teacher, and has taught English literature, language, and writing for over 20 years. She currently teaches 10th grade world literature at Abington Heights High School in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. She has also taught in Boston, Philadelphia, and Kathmandu, Nepal, where for two years she worked as a Jesuit International Volunteer. Pryle holds a bachelor of science in secondary education and a master of science in reading education from The University of Scranton, and a master of fine arts in creative writing from Emerson College. She is currently a candidate for a doctor of education in educational leadership at Wilkes University. Pryle has written seven books for educators about teaching reading and writing; her most recent are Reading with Presence with Heinemann and 50 Writing Activities for Meeting Higher Standards with Scholastic. She presents her work regularly at local, state, and national conferences. In addition to teaching and writing, Pryle is the organizer of the Scranton English Conversation Group, a community outreach program for local refugees from African countries. She also serves on the governing board of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Education Laboratory for the United States Department of Education. Pryle believes that while a curriculum in world literature is necessary to cultivate global citizens, giving students free choice in reading and writing is essential for developing lifelong readers and writers. She encourages students to be active in the community and to use their authentic voices to bring about positive change.