Kimberly Piper is a high school English teacher at Granite State High School, located within the walls of the New Hampshire State Prison for Men and the New Hampshire Correctional Facility for Women, both in Concord, New Hampshire. Piper works with incarcerated adult men and women as they strive to achieve a high school diploma. She offers courses in a variety of topics ranging from the required American literature to electives such as science fiction and Shakespeare. Piper states, "A majority of incarcerated individuals will be released back into society, and our program helps them to fill in the gaps in their education and leave prison better equipped than when they arrived." Piper also offers classes for individuals whose native language is not English, supporting their speaking, reading, writing and listening skills in English. Prior to teaching in the correctional system, Piper's teaching experience ranges from preschool through middle school. She is devoted to helping students see the connections between themselves and others through literature, and finding their voice through writing. "When you read stories, both fictional and true, you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and others," she says. Piper holds a bachelor of arts degree in English teaching and a master of education degree in elementary education, both from the University of New Hampshire.