Ms. MJ is a graduate of Wellesley College with a major in English and Russian, and has an MFA in Writing from Bennington College, where the motto was “Read one hundred books. Write one.” She is a published author of four young adult books. One of them, The River, was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Mystery in America. 

Ms. MJ has taught writing and reading to students of all ages for over a decade. She has discovered joy in teaching students who are coming of age and helping them find and learn to express their own voice. 

Her students have won awards and had their work published. 

Ms. MJ has a background in engineering and languages, and she brings these both to the classroom. She has taught students from ages three to retirees and believes that the best thing for all ages is for them to be able to feel safe enough to bring out their own individual voice.