Bring on the Graduate School Parties. Queue the Success Stories. Applaud the Growth and Changes & Wonder About the Future

Saturday was an entourage of parties to celebrate recent grad students from Fairfield, including Alana's, as well as Mateo's graduation from Loyola Marymount in California (heading to Cornell's Law School in the fall, and a CWP veteran from 3rd grade to his senior year, as well as a literacy leader of the Young Adult Literacy Labs while in college. They were just puppy dogs, weren't they?

The good thing about the parties is the food was plentiful. I only ate at the Italian-fest in Norwalk, as Eva's father opened a new bar/restaurant/club there called The Haven, where his biscuit and ribs definitely ruled the day. So good. The grandma's also made cookies and brownies, the like I've never had before (they said it's the Amalfi Coast way). Was also invited to visit there home on the Italian coast (now wouldn't that be nice). 

The evening festivity brought the Puerto Rican spirt with reunions of both Luis and Jessica's families. There is such happiness seeing multiple generations dancing to Bad Bunny and others. The spirt never left the party and the parental/graduate speeches were out of this world....couldn't help but feel the love and emotion). 

So great to celebrate my English Education students (all three of them) and to have an opportunity to hang with them outside of class. I wasn't with them in their student teaching phase, but had them in all my other classes, plus one summer of CWP-Fairfield labs and institutes. They are an incredible trifecta and were a joy to work with the past 1.5 years (and I feel blessed they came my way...Eva's parents said she chose Fairfield after she met me and I feel honored....as it was a period when I didn't think we were going to have any graduate students in English...All three appeared out of magic hat and have been nothing but wonderful.

Mateo and Alana, though. Phew. Elementary, middle, high school, college, and now graduate school. That seems absolutely incredible to me and I can't help but think they are CWP kids (which I know they are because they received several awards, especially for their writing).

Eva's mother insisted I leave with a pizza made just for me, so I'll have a tomato, onion, mushroom pie to work with when I get hungry again. She said it was the Italian mom in her, but I said I don't think I've had other Italian moms insist I leave with a whole pizza....I guess when dad owns a three-floor joint with bar, dance floors, restaurant, and a game room that there's a little more zing to the maternal instinct of hosting. 

Today...I simply hope to roll with whatever comes my way. Jury duty for Monday was canceled and I feel a tremendous level of relief. The weather is supposed to be much better today and I need to separate some perennials. The seep, creep, and leap rule of (green) thumb is true. I just don't have any more new spaced to put them, so I may be walking them over to my neighbors, especially those who have moved here from NYC and admitted, "I have no idea how to landscape a front yard. This is our first time owning a lawn."

Last day of May, 2026. Wow. I think I'm done trying to figure out time.

I Can Read a Hint & Follow Directions. Lovely to Take a Friday Evening Off (and I Didn't Have to Drive). Now Today, I Hope to Really Relax

Well, before and after several graduation parties that is...I hope to relax.

Yesterday I got a message that read, "I'm going off the deep end into a slightly dirty martini," which was a plea to do a happy hour somewhere. This ended up being at Outriggers on the water, which I've only been to once. With a bar menu 50% off, I now realize why people attend such happy hours. We were out of there by 5:30 and went to Pam's for ice cream. It was a slow Friday night, which I can't be more grateful for.

I spent most of the morning sending out letters of recognition to the 18 presenters at yesterday's conference - can't thank them enough. I also wanted to look at photos taken to get perspective from the day.

Karal was finally bathed, as well, to help shed some of the loose hair and also to work out a tick I found in one the dog's pits. Such a gross creature, especially when they've achieved their blood-sucking goal. I always love the zip-zap-pep a dog gets after a bath. They sprint, leap, shake, and feel overjoyed. I also took her for a long walk to help her dry some of it off in the sun. Of course, this also meant cleaning the bathroom and tub afterwards, too.

Temperatures have plummeted for today, and the coats will be back out for 24 hours. I need to readjust a chaotic semester to ready for a frantic summer. I'll get there. I'm not rushing anything, but simply soaking it all in. 

As for martinis? Yuck. I'll leave those to others. Like drinking bird bath water.

Writing Our Lives & Bravely Belonging Was a HUGE Success, but I'm Unwinding this Morning with the Last Image from Last Night with James & Family

Best part of the day...everything ran smooth. Worst part of the day...definitely many more kids than planned and we ran out of food, but Aramark came to rescue. It was the chicken tenders and lemonade. Big time hits - even the girls stacked 7 or 8 to their plates, with no idea of the numbers of kids needing to be fed behind them. But that was a minor bust (which wasn't a bad thing...a good thing...they loved lunch). 

I have so many photos, plus we had professional photographers there, so I'm likely to write more later on.

For now, after the event I waked Karal and then got James Bird and Adriana Mather (and son, Wolf) and we went out to eat at Vegan-ish in Bridgeport and then to ice cream at Walnut Creamery. Wolf loves his beaches so we also spent a few hours collecting shells, skipping rocks, and seeing how far we might throw rocks into the ocean. It was a beautiful night and I enjoyed every second of it. I'm glad I planned so far ahead that I actually could enjoy the company of my guests this week...which I did. 

And this morning I wake up without having any where to be immediately. In fact, I don't have any thing to accomplished in the next minute. I can unpack from the conference, process the photos, write thank you notes, and walk Karal a little longer. 

120 kids, 8 schools, 8 teachers, 18 presenters, and two author guests. Not bad for putting it together in 3 months with a special foundation grant. I would love, for once, to have funding come in that didn't need to be spent so quickly, but I can't complain! What an amazing experience all around.

Those chicken tenders, though. Phew.

I May Need a Power Suit to Get Through the Day, But It is Here: May 28 - Writing Our Lives & Bravely Belonging: There's No Place Like Home

I'm always thankful to receive foundational support for the work I do and it is an honor to brag, celebrate, dream, and put books and writing utensils into the hands of youth. 8 schools, 100s of kids, wonderful teachers, incredible authors, and a day of writing workshops in a spectacular location on campus. This, of course, requires much on the behind-the-scenes front, especially organizing the ways 8 locations do things completely differently. It's wonderful to pay teachers for the extra work they do with their kids, too.

Rose, Maddy, and I spent some time at Mellow Monkey, then Rose and I drove to Possible Futures to get copies of Hope Wins which ironically came in super late (what good is hope if UPS isn't there with the boxes). I also spent much of the morning working on campus to load up the rooms, hand the signs, prepare for the chaos, and await the buses that will be arriving any time this morning...hopefully safely and without incident. 

At this point, everything has been taken care of and we can only hope it's a spectacular time for us all. Having Rose with me has been extra special, because she gets it...I'm still trying to figure out how she runs 12,000 kids through her NTTBF each year. I can't even begin to imagine the secret work it takes to make that happen. I attended one time and was in absolute awe.

Today, I simply have to blast off and make it to the finish. I spent much of yesterday keeping my eyelids open with toothpicks as I can feel my body collapsing from it all. I just like mowing the lawn and taking walks. The crazy days aren't arriving with the same kind of energy I used to have (Rose and I laughed at this...what does it mean to aim for average, instead of excellence?). 

Not our style. And with that...need to get my butt to campus and start unpacking all the goods to be handed out.

Readying Myself for Another Youth Conference. First Guests Arrived and the Others Come Tomorrow. Excited to Get the Kids Excited About YA Texts and Writing.

I haven't seen Maddy since she was in high school and now she is working with marketing in the NYC publishing world. Sh e and Rose came in from NYC, via Texas, via Oklahoma and I'm ready for HOPE to win once again. After all, it was Susan and James Bird who inspired this particular Writing Our Lives conference. I put them up at Surfside in Lordship (Stratford) and took them out at Founders House in Milford. Gorgeous night along the Sound, and now it's time to ready for the Thursday conference. 

Today was spent in meetings and trying to get the final touches ready for the gathering of 120 youth. Buses are aligned and that is the craziest of the crazy. Phew. Gas prices. They have to come down. 

I will be heading to the meeting space to put last minute touches of the gathering together and then spending 24 hours fretting it will all come together. The world of young adult literature and K-12 literacy promotion is small, so when like minded folk show up, you embrace them with your entire heart. Rose Brock is the real deal and I'm forever grateful I was introduced to her several moons ago for StoryFest in Westport. 

We are lucking out with the weather, too. I love when it's San Diego temperatures. If we can get to the other side of this conference, with success, I will be forever grateful. The behind the scenes work is enormous, but worth all the stress and organization. In the meantime, if a few authors can find serenity for a couple of days, I'll know it was all worth it. 

And now for a frantic day of labor.

Congratulations, Miss Bell-Foot....The Klingenfus is Retiring After 27 Years. It's Like Watching a Paper Dolls of Our Youth. Time is Something.

An ol' colleague from the Brown School who went on to other schools and leadership roles in the district announced her retirement of 27 years yesterday. I was thinking about it, because she was in the cohort following my own and student taught with Gay Rapley. She also took her spot upon the retirement and we worked together for several years, including the maintenance of the Roskilde Lille Skole exchange (which I still shake my head about....different times....the world was quite different).

Carrie Klingenfus taught the 10th grade English and the humanities blocks. I remember early on going out with her and her friends, the love she always had for her dogs, the adoption of her two kids, hummingbirds at her dad's house, the passing of her mom, and the wild -n- crazy year(s) that led up to my departure. I remember, too, the night she and I realized we'd been played against each other for the empowerment of another. I left in 2007. She left a couple years after. We both LOVED the Brown. We adored the students. We gave all that we had through laughter, stress, tears, anger, frustrations, and joy.

When I did the math I realized that she and I were both in our mid-twenties when we met...not too many years out of a graduate teaching program at the University of Louisville. It also seems that we just met, but her last day of school, "It's Over," began with the first days almost 3 decades ago. So much life since then...so much change....so much teaching....so much wisdom. 

I'm so happy she put in the years and even happier that she can finally rest from teenagers for a while. The stories are just too tremendous and only a teacher would know the depth of the work that has been done. 

I keep thinking about the fact that I would likely be retired now, too, if I stayed in Kentucky. That also blows my mind, but as I noted, since those short years in Kentucky, another world was created that makes me appreciate the Brown even more.

We were kids teaching kids, Carrie. And you still look exactly the same. I'm applauding your achievements from Connecticut. 

Well. The Heat Kicked Back On. I'm Just Going to Ride With It. It Will Get Warm Again Before Long

Well, this Memorial Day Weeknd has been a wash. I'm back to a jacket when outside and I pulled the blankets back out. I need more cover to get things done. I decided to take advantage of the crappy weather to get ahead on other projects, including more preparation for this week, followed by the summer. There were to be no outdoor activities this weekend and walking the dog soaked me to the bones.

And it looks to be this way again this morning, although they say it is supposed to break sometime today. The grass, trees, and flowers are loving it. 

Pam talked me into watching The Burroughs, but I'm not sure how far I will go with it. She said the plot gets much better....Stranger Things for geriatrics. "Is that why this is moving so slow?"

If we can get some dry time today I really want to get back into the garden. The nicer days are ahead and they're nicer when everything is planted and landscaped. I also want a day of reading on the couch (which is likely not to happen). 

Either way, Karal and I are going for a longer than usual hike. Being cooped up has been for the birds. 

At least it's a holiday Monday. We have that going on for the day. 

I Can Be Superstitious at Times, so I'm Sure the People in BJs Parking Lot Were Like, Is That Man Having a Conversation with Crows.

Oh, I was. I was talking with crows. They landed on my car and gave me the eye as I put flowers into the trunk. It was raining, so I went to get flowers because I figured, "Who's getting flowers on a shitty day?" - I was right...no one and I was in and out. 

But the crows were eyeing me. I simply said, "I know why you're here." In Wolf Club, the grandmother talks to the crows and they teach her their ways. She has all the wisdom. Knowing that James Bird is coming this week, she sent them check me out and to see what I'm all about. "Don't worry," I told them. "He's going to have a great time while here. I know that you were sent." They then flew off.

This may sound strange, but I actually liked communicating with the crows and, for a moment, thought this may be the way I want to go in the future. Fewer humans. More crows. But then I thought about White people and cultural appropriation and realized I was simply living in a fantasy that this world was better than it actually is...that I might, too, have a deeper connection with meaning, world history, and the grand narratives we're all part of.

I went to campus and loaded up gift boxes of Wolf Club for the 8 participating schools that will be coming to campus this week. I'm hoping Hope Wins comes by Thursday, too. My biggest worry is getting all the materials to the location for the big day: gift bags, supplies, the books...it's a lot of stuff and heavy. I know it will take a few trips, too, and I need to get a place to store it.

The crows may also have been checking on my sanity. I mean, three day weekend and I was on campus working before heading home and stopping for flowers in the rain. Maybe they thought I was a worm or that I was one of the chopped pineapple heads thrown around the parking lot. They were everywhere. Someone started their party early, and didn't want the leaves in their car.

All plans were cancelled last night due to rain, colds, upset stomachs, and temperatures. I made a sandwich, which Karal wanted to eat after I already fed her. I was like, "This is mine," which it was. 

And now it is Sunday.

Warm Fuzzies Come on a Saturday Morning When I See that the Work of CWP is Paid Forward to Students in K-12 Schools

Max sent me these yesterday, as he used the publications for the last few years as his own model with student writers at his school. The students want more. They especially love some of the comical writing that teachers get out of kids and they are thrilled to see kids their age published in a book for them to read. I love to learn when our hard work in the summer makes it way into the 180 days of regular schooling. It makes me even happier when the messages that come back to me are positive and energizing. The kids want more!

Yesterday, I took the two retirees from my school out to lunch. They are my last grasp at normalcy in my school and I hate to see them go. We've been through so much together: 4 Deans, tremendous turnover, crazy realities, and yet our shared passion for keeping our own worlds afloat (and if I'm heading to my 16th year, I'm averaging a Dean for every 4 years). The hardest part of seeing the torch passed down to me is all the new people have no history, concept, or understanding about all that's gone down. If I try to share, I have to laugh at myself. I, too, think I'm making stuff up....but nope, that's the reality of what it's been.

I landscaped the lawn, too, advantage of the inclement weather predictions to enjoy a gorgeous, blue sky, high 60s day. The way it should always be. Weedwhacking is done, and now I await to see if I got into poison ivy. I think I did, but I sure hope not.

Today's whether seems to be extremely gloomy so I will take care of indoor work (knowing I surpassed sunset last night putting in flowers - phase one). I stopped by BJs to get Karal dog biscuits and saw they have a lot of robust flowers for cheap, so I'm wondering if I should travel the doom and gloom to get some and store for sunnier days. We'll see how the coffee kicks in, first. 

Actually, I think I have a good day today and Sunday is when the rain arrives. I hope we're not getting back into that pattern again, when weekdays are gorgeous and every weekend sucks.

Prepping for Summer Literacy Labs - 2026 Theme: "When Life Gives Us Lemons." I'm Curious What Kids Will Do with that Concept in Their Writing

Truth is, we're reading Sea of Lemons: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by Maria Dolores Aguila which is based on the 1931 Lemon Grove lawsuit and incident. I always love to find books that challenge my understanding of history and what is actually taught in our schools. Max Limric's translanguaging work, too, has me thinking about books with more than one language to get all of us thinking differently about communication and storytelling. Of course, I've also gone whimsical with the idea of making lemonade out of lemons and did a 10 book purchase of lemon children's books for the littler kids. 

Will try to put the older ones to work, too, with their novels and college essays. We choose books, though, knowing that they will be a good focus for Ubuntu Academy.

Last night, I got the lawn mowed in-between all the rain predictions. I also got gifts for next week's conference, had the last piece of mercury filling taken out of my mouth (there is currently no silver sightings - my current dentist is new-age healthy and she has slowly rid the poison of mercury as my teeth have needed additional work. We celebrated yesterday that her several-year plan is complete. This is somewhat amazing because when I taught in a woman's prison for a year in Kentucky, the inmates were always quick to point out the silver in my mouth. "You like sweets, don't ya?" they'd ask. Nope. I just am genetically drawn to cavities...have been since I was a kid. My mouth will always be worth more than I'll ever be. 

It's sort of a strange weekend going into unseasonable cold, rain, and no events. There are things I want to do and accomplish, but they're all outside (we'll see how much of this rain actually comes). I'm also fantasizing about building bookshelves from floor to ceiling in the weird room between the side door and living room. It'd like that to be a cozy nook for the books (which it is now, but I'm using book shelves that have gone with me to three states....of course, I should also be downsizing and getting rid of things...not making more room for them). 

I just might lie on my couch for three days reading books I've had on my list (as I caught up with the audio ones...which is my preferred method these days). I also hope to get grill space, as it makes a big difference on eating when I have time to prepare meals on the grill.

Happy Friday. We got this. 

The Leftovers Sustained Me for Night Two: Eating Ribs During a Thunderstorm as the Temperatures Take a Nose Dive in Stratford.

I've been getting up early to walk the dog. I still sweat, but it's not like it will be in July and August. It's heat without the humidity actually, and it's been brutal (if not beautiful). The pollen is disastrous and it clumps in the throat. I've even seat cottonwoods blooming and that is like three weeks too soon. Consequently, my head and throat are a mess. 

It's all good, though. Cycle of things. 

I was so happy to discover after a day of writing, packing, unpacking, readying, and processing that I had leftovers from last nights gathering with Oona. That made for a convenient dinner on night two as the rain and thunder moved in. I wanted to lie on the couch reading books, anyways. A full tummy helped with all of that. 

This morning, I awake to a day where the high temperature of 67 is the actual low temperature of the past few weeks. I anticipated storms to off send this crazy change, and am hoping that June will ready itself with more pleasant days and not the preview of July that this past week has offered. Yes, the lawn needs to be mowed again, but I wanted to wait for cooler comfort to get it done.

In one week, the 37th Writing Our Lives conference will be hosted at Fairfield University, ones that have been born from the offshoot of Dr. Marcelle Haddix's influence on my in Syracuse when we got the grant to kicks the project off. I haven't really written about the traditions but started to think about doing that yesterday when my mind wandered from morning coffee.

It will be a rain event all weekend, so I know I'll have time to sit inside sulking, which usually results in getting more stationary projects done. Next week, when the whether is beautiful, I look forward to hosting James Bird and Rose Brock on campus for the youth event. It will be full charge ahead at that point, and I've been squeezing lemons for the summer work, too. 

Here's to the rain...as Ishmael Wooley said, "Wuv the wain. It brings May Fwowers." I'll never forget that he told me this when I complained about it coming down so hard. 

Well, I Now Have Chairs, Too. Piecing Together a Back Patio One Day at a Time. Trying to Give Myself Partial Days Off To Heal from the Last Year

I have to keep reminding myself that I didn't have a winter break and I've been going since...well, forever. I spent my holidays driven to help students to get to where they needed to be. Whether or not that comes to fruition depends on how their Capstone is taught. All I know is that it isn't being taught by me. 

I did several recommendations yesterday, returned calls to Principals to respond to background checks, wrote a few peer observations, and manage to get five new porch chairs. This means I will not be buying a new set, as I thought I would. The tables survived the winter...the chairs did not. Actually, 3 of 8 made it. One by one, last summer, they all started falling apart at the seams. But finding alternative chairs will keep me in place for a while.

It was 90 degrees, but not 90-humid degrees. Karal could be walked. Yard work could be completed. Journal correspondences could occur. 

I also soaked a set of ribs and the marination smelled so good. I cooked them, too, and matching this with Oona's cantinas made for a fantastic, spur-of-the-moment Tuesday dinner. I'm still licking my chops thinking about it. It truly does make a difference to have a porch open for business (and by that I mean grilling). 

I need to be on campus to inventory items and ready myself for July programs (of course, meeting with the Office of Research & Grants, too, also is a mainstay). What I do appreciate, though, is not having to be 100% committed to students through coursework and advising. It offers a temporary time of evenings off. 

Sometimes They Actually Send What You Ordered. Was Thrilled They Arrived to My Mother in Memory of her Cousin (& Best Friend), Jackie

When the GrubHub card didn't arrive to my mom, I contemplated how to best celebrate Mother's Day. It was obviously going to be late, and I grew frustrated that it never got to its destination. Then, knowing yesterday the cousins were going to host an event in Hamilton and my mom couldn't make it, I thought it'd be nice to have flowers sent to Amalfi Drive in memory of Jackie, their joy as cousins and friends, and for the stories they shared throughout a lifetime. I lived for mom and Jackie stories whenever they got together. They were always comedic and outrageous. I knew mom deserved a bright bundle of color as Jackie was memorialized in their home town.

The dining room table always looks better with a bloom of buds before my mom's work space. I figured she'd need something to brighten up the sadness that comes from such loss. I'm sad, too, that I couldn't make it to the celebration of life but with everything unwinding from the weekend and the conference next week, I knew I'd better sit still in Connecticut. I worked on journal reviews, sharing materials with colleagues, getting ready to hire for the summer, and contacting with bus companies (just kill me with the bus companies). 

The 70-degree day also turned into an 85 degree day. I wanted to get new patio furniture and went out to spend money, but both places I went to had such horrible customer service that I eventually just walked out. I was even holding my wallet in my hand ready to go. Screw that. If you come by and check on me, I ask a question, and you go to seek an answer, I expect you to come back. Nope. Their loss. Wish I could return with patio chairs in both arms to say, "Big mistake. Big, Big mistake."

I might set out to try again today but mid-90s temperatures makes me think I want to stay in doors to avoid the combination of heat and pollen. My throat and nostrils are already in a war zone.

Ah, but there's no classes and emails have dwindled to a minimal (which is such a tremendous joy). It's one of the reason I much prefer summer. 

Commencement Phase Two: The Undergraduate Celebration (and a Gorgeous Day, Although Those Gowns are Like Saunas in the Heat)

Truth: I arrive for the student walk-by and faculty cheers, but I never enter the arena. I've learned from the years I've attended (because of particular students) that is is basically like cooking on a grill. The sun beams down and you fry. Well, unless it's raining and then you just get drenched to the bone. Since I attend the graduate ceremony with responsibilities, I've learned to bypass the undergraduate one. Still, I like to see the students so if I wake up and feel like it, I deal with the traffic and join my colleagues outside of Donnarumma. It really is an amazing occasion and at 9 a.m. in the morning, there's still a breeze. We stand in the shade. I can cope.

It's interesting to me to see the first phase of Little Lab for Big Imaginations, and the stationary crew who hung on for the years that followed, are now graduating college. Alana Planas, who graduated with a degree in Public Health and is moving to attend Brown University in the fall for graduate school, is one of those kids. Yesterday, her brother, Mateo (who also worked for CWP), graduated from Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles yesterday. Their mom attended one graduation and took a red-eye so she could attend the 2nd (her luggage stored in her faculty office). I cam to see her represent, as well as members of the women's volleyball and softball team who I've had ver the years. Also saw Gianluca who seriously wanted to go into teaching history, but then realized he's used to a fancier life, so has chosen law school instead. "I have to say, Crandall. Your class made me thing about the power of teachers and the influence one can have, but then the salary truth kicked in, and I just couldn't live that way."

Honesty is a virtue, too.  Great kid. Brilliant. I get it. 

I came home and immediately started laundry, patio clean up, and walking the dog. But then I got numb ... the kind of numb one gets at the end of the semester. Totally brain dead. Tried to nap, but was too numb even for that so I stared into the sky for a while. I learned from Dr. Beth Boquet that she did the same. It comes from total exhaustion...the pace of filling every second with the next thing, always knowing that you forgot all the other things. With no classes, much of this lifts.. Truth be told....it's the teaching that take the most time for preparation, implementation, and assessment. When you're not at the helm, there's much more time to take care of all the other jobs we're supposed to do. 

I just know that I'm going to move a bit slower (at least mentally). I don't mind moving more and faster, physically, spiritually, and psychologically. I need more non-thinking time for a short bit and that is what I'm aiming for.

Ah, the first Monday without the demands. It always feels good. 

Commencement Phase One: The Graduate Version Was Successfully Hosted at Fairfield, Before Giving My a Day for Summer Home Prep

For a guy who didn't attend a single of of his Master Degree Graduations (and I have 2.8 degrees - kicked away the last two classes at Bread Loaf for the Doctorate). Both times I was like "too much time, too many hassles, I want to move on, etc." I just didn't go. I find the same is true for Graduate students at Fairfield University. Only about 1/3 attend, and those individuals are usually doing it for their families.

I was ready to go, on campus, and dressed by 8 a.m. - it was wonderful to see the students I did see, including Eva and Shane, pictured here, who spent the last year taking my classes. They even worked for me and did the teacher institute. No pictured is Emmi, who is in the same boat (who also attended yesterday - I love our connections to Denmark). there were three English Education grads this year and all three are thrilled to become English teacher.

Of special surprise was the Commencement Speaker, Maggie Doyne, CEO of BlinkNow Foundation and a global humanitarian. She told a story of not getting into the colleges she wanted, taking a gap year, and ending up in India meeting orphaned children of India living in poverty. Young, herself, she began to question her privilege as a U.S. citizen with so much she was able to take advantage of with parentless children cracking rocks open on a riverbanks of India. There was a calling, and although she doesn't/didn't claim a religion, she does think about doing good for the world, and has chosen to pay her privilege forward. Next to Jason Reynolds at Lesley University, this may be the best speech I've ever heard at one of these ceremonies...so effective, I'll likely reach out.

I snuck out, came home to walk Karal, and then tackled the back patio and power washing. I am amazed at how clean things become after doing a power walk...scruffy appears new again. 

I wanted to grill, though. So I did a ribeye, mushrooms (they are always the best), potatoes, tips, and vegetables. Sadly, Bev is too sick right now, so Pam, Leo, and I got together. I know I'm not suppose to eat too much red meat, but phew those ribeyes tasted good. 

Today it is undergraduate commencement, a much larger and much longer ceremony. I am no obligated to go so I am playing the morning by ear. I do hate to miss the students walking in...some I had their freshman and senior years....especially the athletes. 

Temperatures are on the up and up. Patio is getting there. And the weekend belongs to University rituals .

Been a Minute, and I Used It for Storage All Winter, But the Mt. Pleasant Front Office (Porch) Is Back in Operation for the Season

Feels good to be on the front porch typing again. Usually I'm operating in April, especially for #VerseLove, but it's been cold and I haven't had a second to think about changing gears. I talked myself into order Chinese food, which saved me time for cooking, and I went to town on the front porch. The goal, the entire day, was to tackle the garage which has also become storage for books, but I gave up when (1) I saw the snowblower, rusting, dead and needing to be junked and (2) the $500 Christmas Tree I bought on clearance for $70. It's still in the box and I've been meaning to move it to the basement.

Alas, there's the teaching, service, research thing. I really haven't had much time for home life at all...not the upkeep anyways.

Was sad to see my neighbor's house across the street going back on the market, but they're family is expanding, the toddlers are getting bigger, and they need a different space (and wish to flee from Stratford Public Schools). She taught there for a while and was not a fan...the thought of sending her kids...she says...to the people she used to work with horrifies her. Okay. Understood, but I'll miss seeing them everyday and having the boys wave, "Hello, Naver Bryan."

It's not like neighborhoods of yesterday, but those who wave and occasionally make conversation are good enough for me.

This morning, I am heading to day one of commencements...the graduation program. Joy to be on campus by 7 a.m. for a program that begins much later. They also put me as a faculty Marshall instead of a student Marshall, which seems to be a wee bit boring. I like the chaos of grad students trying to make sense of the ceremony. 

Then I come home to hopefully work on the garage and gardens. That is the goal, anyways (and of course it will hit dinner time and I'll be like, "Crap. I don't have time to cook."

Keep hoping for that phone call..."Crandall. Calling to see if I can take you out to dinner..."

Nope. Onward.

One of My New Favorite, Daily Hobbies, especially During Pollen Season is Heading to the Car Wash on the Way Out of the Neighborhood

Actually, the car wash is by the high school on the way to I-95, and it's a no-brainer to stop on the way into work each day as it's on the way and easy. I used to stop here and there for $24, but then they had a $27 monthly deal where you can stop as much as you like. Yes, you can even go round and round and round if you choose. I am telling people my car is better bathed than I am. 

And she got another washing yesterday. I worked from home in the morning taking advantage that there was a full day ahead with nothing on the calendar. I worked on grants. I worked on summer programs. I worked on emails. I finally decided to get a package off to my cousin in Amagansett after sitting on it for a month. Getting to FedEx brought me to the car wash - a no brainer. Karal was with me, too, and we ventured on to campus so I could unload my car with summer books into my office (that has no more space left). I actually brought Karal indoors with me and she was wonderful. She visited offices and stayed pretty chill, always looking to the door for my return. 

A little end-of-the-semester canine therapy which all seemed to enjoy. 

I got home to walk Karal (it was supposed to rain all day but cleared in the afternoon). All it took was for Pam to say 'steak sandwiches' and I was out the door to Paradise Pizza to pick them up. Also got a gorgonzola salad which is, hands down, one of my favorite salads to eat.

Today shall be a lot like yesterday. My major goal is to pull everything from the garage, clean it out, and get the books in order. It's a giant mess in there and could use some sorting. I also want to get my hands in the soil, the flowers planted, and the perennials thinned and moved to new locations. I'm pretty ambitious for the day, but know my weekend is hijacked by both graduation ceremonies. 

I also want to read, but I'm sort of addicted to audio books because I can multi-task and do more than one thing at once (and reading is so stationary).

Ah, but I'm moving on with the day. It's a Friday with no agenda...feels so good after the year that just was.

And Thus Ends a Three-Night Streak of Awards & Recognition. Tonight Was for the SEHD Dean Award and Dr. Campbell and I Are Proud of Victoria

I believe it is true that Thursday and Friday are complete without any obligations to attend ceremonies and hand out awards. There's two-days off before Saturday commencement for graduates and Sunday commencement for undergraduates. Always fascinating to see which of my colleagues show. 

Last night, Dr. Anne Campbell and I got to celebrate Victoria Tomé as the 2026 Dean's Award for Academic Excellence from the School of Education and Human Development. Although Victoria finished in December, she'll graduate with her 6th year this Spring. She's been an all-start and we had a lot of fun celebrating her last night with her son Tiago, who was getting restless with all the talking of the Dean and President. He was there for his mommy and we were there for him (even had him come to the Mic to help us give the award You can see how thrilled he was about having to attend his mother's achievement. 

ESTP Dean’s Award – Victoria Tomè

Bryan: Good Evening, I’m Sonny,

Anne: And I’m Cher,

Bryan: And tonight we are going to perform a couple of songs for you.

Anne: Actually, no Bryan, we’re here because we have the honor of announcing the 2026 Dean’s Award for Educational Studies and Teacher Preparation to Victoria Tomè.

Bryan: Unfortunately, our Chair Dr. Emily Shamash was unable to make tonight’s event, and she asked us to introduce Victoria to all of you. 

Anne: Victoria Tome, a student from the 6^th Year Certificate of Advanced Study program in Bilingual Education. Tori completed her degree in December of 2025 and will be graduating this year at the 2026 commencement. This was her second degree at Fairfield. In Spring 2021, she earned to MA with initial certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Bryan: And both of us had the privilege of mentoring and guiding her for the past couple of years. 

Anne: Victoria truly embodies the Jesuit principle of service to others, as evidenced by her work as an ESL teacher at Shelton High School. Her passion for language learning and her dedication to meeting the needs of immigrant and refugee high school students comes from a very deep place in her heart.” Victoria has been a powerhouse in advocating for immigrant and refugee youth in her district. She is very adept at finding resources and navigating ways to serve the needs of students with limited English language abilities. She consistently champions best practices for working with English language learners and has offered professional development to teachers at her school and across the district.

Last year, she completed a capstone action research project entitled “Curriculum Design to Teach Academic Reading and Writing to Long Term English Learners.” For this project she researched best practices, documented the needs of her students, and designed a semester course that she taught fall 2025. 

Bryan: In addition, she has published two articles: “Empowering Multilingual Learners with YA Literature to Bridge Cultural Divides in Secondary Classrooms” on YA Wednesday, an online resource for teachers and scholars of young adult literature; as well as “Ten Ways to Teach Your Kids About Love” in Power of Words, a publication of the Connecticut Writing Project.

Anne: Victoria Tomé is an SEHD gem – a true emblem of teacher leaders who give everything to their students, career, and graduate studies. Her brilliance was obvious from day one, and her willingness to use knowledge from her coursework into her everyday practice made her unique. 

Bryan: She represents the best of Jesuit Education, caring for her students in tremendous ways. She is truly deserving of the Dean’s Award.

Anne: Please welcome us in congratulation Victoria as this year’s Educational Studies and Teacher Preparation recipient. 

Super proud of our student. It's always wonderful to honor the good ones!

 

 

With Tremendous Respect and Total Appreciation of Dr. Anne E. Campbell, Professor Emeritus at Fairfield University

It is always an honor to speak in recognition of someone you admire and who has helped to make you the person you are. Last night, I had the privilege of offering remarks for Dr. Anne Elizabeth Campbell who is retiring from Fairfield University this summer. She's an angel, a professional, a kind leader, and a stellar mind. I will miss her, but wanted to put my remarks online so they can be shared with others. 

 Retirement Remarks for Dr. Anne Elizabeth Campbell

~Bryan Ripley Crandall

12. May, 2026

Fairfield University

Oak Room

 

         It was around this time last year, during a meeting with Educational Studies and Teacher Preparation, that I looked to Dr. Anne Campbell and said, “Wait. If you retire next year, that means I’m the senior guy in the department.” She simply laughed as if to say, “Yup, it’s your turn, sucker.”

 I’ve always been a good joke to the school, but I did go into absolute panic mode. I realized I only had one year left to absorb every ounce of my colleague before she left. – whatever will I do without Anne in the year to come? 

Hello, I’m Bryan Ripley Crandall and I am represent the School of Education and Human Development, and Dr. Anne Elizabeth Campbell has been central to the majority of what I’ve achieved while I’m here: she’s my colleague, a mentor, a phenomenal educator, a counselor, a social worker, and a therapist. She brings both humanity and literacy learning to our school and profession, earning every letter of S.E.H.D.  And Lord knows she has worked overtime to take achieve what she has. 

Vincent J. Duminico, S.J., reminds us that a Jesuit Education is the pursuit of human excellence and it relies on the spirit of community. It means adapting scholarship with methods that achieve purposes and outcome more effectively, as we aim to live lifelong pursuit of knowledge with openness. There isn’t one steward, but a collective stewardship to do better for the world. At the same time, a Jesuit education has an intentional concern for the impoverished, the disenfranchised, and the forgotten. This is, and has always been, the center of Dr. Anne Campbell’s work. She is the mission of the university with and has single-handedly filled the majority of our K-12 schools in southern Connecticut with literacy expertise for working with students who speak a second, third, fourth, and even fifth language..  When you dedicate your life to working with kids…and your mission is always in support of English language learners and teachers, you learn exactly what it means to be a human being. Your job is to assure that others belong, too.

Last year during this same ceremony, Dr. Campbell put her hand on my hand, and said, “I want you to be my speaker next year.” “Oh, God Bless,” I thought. She knows what a foolish imp I am (and I promised myself I’d keep the better material for after the party). Even so, you do need to know the first time I met Anne she was returning to dinner with her mentor, Sister Julianna, and I heard them laughing about their tapas experience. At the time, ignorant of such an eating experience as a newly minted Ph.D and first-generation educated college student – I am  still learning English too – I was perplexed by what I was hearing. I actually went into the office of Pam Kelly, Assistant to the Dean, completely confused. “Can I ask you something,” I inquired. Pam knows much more about Catholic traditions than I do, but my inquiring mind wanted to know. “Why would Sister and Anne be at a topless bar?”

True story. I own my ignorance. And now for more formality.

Dr. Anne Elizabeth Campbell has been outstanding faculty member at Fairfield University since 2008, when she was hired as Assistant Professor of TESOL and Bilingual Teacher Education and Program Coordinator of Secondary World Languages. She was welcomed after her previous appointment at Washington State University, Pima Community College, and several locations throughout higher education in Florida.  In 2011, Dr. Campbell was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure at Fairfield University where she continued to be an irreplaceable leader in our department and for our students. Most recently, she took on an additional role as Co-Director of Secondary Education 4-Year Certification Tracks, to assist our department as we move to offer the Curriculum & Instruction undergraduate major.

I’ve learned from Dr. Michelle Farrell the power of courageous friendships…that is, the strength that comes from being professional colleagues who discuss teaching, theory, politics, service, research, and everyday life with complete integrity, brutal honesty, and irreplaceable listening. I mention this, because Dr. Campbell has been one of my most courageous friends I’ve ever had in this profession. Her gifts are multiple, and include an unwavering kindness, a tremendous dedication to the Jesuit Mission, her institutional knowledge (oh, if these walls could talk), and decades of incredible expertise in her field, including her short stint as Carmen Miranda, the Brazilian bombshell with a fondness for fruit hats. She’s also my therapist. We talk regularly.

For five years, 2012 - 2017, Dr. Campbell was the P.I. and Co-Director of the B.E.S.T. Education Project, a 1.4 million dollar investment from the United States Department of Education to bring Bilingual, Special Education, and TESOL teacher certification together. This impressive accomplishment followed the other 1.2 million dollar investment from 2009-2012, called SETTEL. The funding provided opportunities for numerous educators earning a certification from Fairfield University and helped establish a project with Cesar Batalla School a year later, with an additional award of $150,000.

Anne’s academic achievements only tell some of the story, though. Victoria Tomé, recipient of a 2026 Dean’s Award from the School of Education and Human Development shared,

Dr. Campbell’s passion and intelligence are equally matched with her kindness and empathy. I was

so fortunate to learn from her, and she is a true personal hero of mine because of the way she advocates for English learners and students. The impact of her work will be felt for generations to come; through her own teaching and through the teachers she has influenced so deeply! 

Arlette Johnson, award-winning principal at Franklin Elementary School in Stratford, Connecticut shared, 

Dr. Campbell’s calm presence and fierce dedication to equity influenced how I approach teaching and student learning. She always kept student growth at the center of her work, particularly for multilingual learners like me. Her support and guidance helped me grow as an educator who believes deeply in every student’s potential. I am very grateful for her leadership and influence. 

Additionally, William King and Jessica Baldizon, who I like to think of as the offspring of Dr. Campbell and me (hey, it was a night after Brazilian music at a tapas bar… It could happen), acknowledged,

"Dr. Campbell was one of the most influential educators we have had the privilege to be taught by. We will forever deeply appreciate the great care she put into our journeys as she helped us along our initial certification coursework to become multilingual learner educators.  The seeds she planted in us have allowed us to teach with hope. This, of course, resulted in Elijah and Kiara, our grateful twins, who are thankful Dr. Campbell admitted us into the program where we met."

All of us in the School of Education and Human Development and many across the campus have benefited from Dr. Anne Campbell’s brilliance and guidance, and it will be a difficult year ahead not having her down the hall. I am a better man because of my time spent with her and I’ve always loved having her as an inspirational colleague.

 

Please join me in congratulating her retirement and honor of being named Professor Emeritus at Fairfield University. 

 

 

 

Tis That Time of Year When We're Trying to Close Shop, But the Shop Keeps on Demanding. Ah, But It's Student Celebration Time and I Got a Two-fer Yesterday

I was frantically leaving an Academic Council meeting when I ran into three seniors: Delaney, Cara, and Alyssa, all seniors on the Women's Softball team who will be retiring to our graduate program, who happened to be on a photo-shoot in white dresses (a tradition at the University) outside of Bellarmine Hall as I scurried like a rat from one building to another where I was hosting a Celebration of Teachers and Teaching.

It put a smile on my face because I'm excited to celebrate student athletes: a pitcher, a catcher, and a 1st base(wo)man who happened to be academic all-stars, too. They come back for the 5th year, and I am lucky to have them in my graduate research course. I already have big ideas for them and can't believe they've already finished four years of college courses. Sad that they didn't make it as far as they wanted to go in the MAAC tournament but happy to see them supermodeling outside the campus hub.

I ran over to celebrate 26 student teachers, their supervisors, and the host teachers (including Tori who was once my student who is now hosting student teachers) in an evening program where the principal of Notre Dame High School spoke as a keynote. It was a great even and I was happy to see three of the English Education folks making it to completion after an exhausting semester of hard, unpaid, and relentless work at their host schools.

And this brings me to Tuesday, where back to back faculty meetings lead to a retirement celebration. I'm proud of Emmi, Eva, and Shane, who came out of nowhere last year as post-BAs looking to get their certification. They became my right and left hands for CWP and now they will be moving to the market.

I had all the students in attendance at last night's celebration except three, and I wanted to be there to applaud the incredible semester they just had (and to gift them autographed books of Youth World I got at Possible Futures last week. 

My crew looked good, but the over census was that everyone was extremely exhausted from the student teaching that just was (I remember, too, attending a similar occasion in Louisville in 1996 and coming to celebrations with bag under my eyes, the need for a bed, and the thought, "Celebrating this experience isn't the word. I need a vacation." The students juggle graduate courses and full-time, unpaid work.

Ah, but they made it. Always a great event at Fairfield University and if it wasn't for the traffic/construction on the way home...1.5 hours to go 4 miles...it would have been a perfect day.

You know it is the end of the semester when you simply can't wait until you have a second to mow the lawn. That will be this morning (fingers crossed). I hope.

Legging Go of My Youth, I Guess. 30 Years of Running (now walking) & My Ankles Are Catching Up. Invested in Some Ol' People @$@#!

In my early 40s I had varicose veins removed. They were really bad on my left and right side and they did this really cool procedure that used laser and electricity to remove them. That made me glad, as I always liked my legs, especially during my running days. I loved standing on my tip toes to show off my calf muscles. Well, in the last couple of years I've noticed my left ankle was swelling. At times it was turning purple and bruising easy. This, with the psoriasis, made it embarrassing to wear shorts in the summer. I just can't win. 

Tremfiya has taken care of the psoriasis...there are just freckles of it here and there, so I read up on curing edema, which there is none, but compression socks help. I don't need them on my feed (and hopefully I never will), but I wanted to try them on my left ankle. They come in pairs, but I only need it for one side right now. 

I tell you what...as soon as I put it on, I felt like my ankle was healing. the circulation has been so bad and there is so much fluid, that it actually throbs when I hike every day (I really really want to run, but have been told by the hernia surgeon, YOU MUST STOP). I definitely don't want to give up walking every day. I need to move. It's the only mental reprieve I give myself each day (everything else is so cerebral). 

So, I'm on day two of the compression anklet and I love it. It feels like it is holding me together (and yes, this could pass). I just don't know why the left side has chosen to be a repository for fluids...but it has. And I am trying to live with it, so the socks are a thing now.

Ah, but on another note, I finished grading. Phew. Just have one outstanding project that hasn't been turned in and I'm sure it will get here eventually....full-time teacher who has a lot on his plate. I get it. The profession is impossible and when you're doing the profession and taking classes, it can be outright miserable. So, Mr. Flexible I become. At least it is only one student this year.

Here we go, Monday...but it's starting to wind down....FINALLY.

Happy Day of Treating Your Mother Right (Although I Screwed Up & Added to Her Daily Stress with a GrubHub Card). My Bad. Happy Mother's Day to All Who Celebrate.

I learned my lesson the year I waited until Father's Day to double celebrate my mother for a parental two-for-one. I thought Happy Mother-#$@#$'s Day was a nice approach. Technically, it covers two territories, but I learned it's more crass than loving. That is why I was forced to watch Mr. T, so I could get advice from an expert.

I wanted to send chocolates, but that really isn't a thing any more, and she has enough pajamas for the next three decades. I often offer flowers and they're nice, but they fade to quickly, and getting outdoors to look at perennials is an unlikely affair. I was thinking the best strategy would be addressing her biggest complaint - the need for a meal beyond Meals-on-Wheels from one of her favorite locations. I selected GrubHub to the rescue, remembering that it took me a while to figure out when Sue McV sent a card to me. Once the efforts are decoded in digital spaces, it's actually quite easy...but I typically pick up the food, which I didn't factor in. Don't think Dad can use the lawn mower to travel that far anymore.

Ah, but it's thankful to have opportunity to try for a nice gesture in celebration of MOMS, even if we typically get it wrong (and I'm hearing from many, at least you have a mom to celebrate...many have lost theirs). 

So, GrubHub it was and is. If one nice, out-of-the-blue dinner comes from it then it is a great thing, even if it is Burger King. Sadly, I'm not in Syracuse for in-person affairs, but I do what I can through the yearly blog and another JibJab celebration. I went to send a card, but the cheapest one was $9 (what? Are they trying to be a gallon of gas these days?). I opted for digital joy instead, including a classic from Mr. T.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! And Happy Mother's Day to all the other Moms out there. Here's to you.

I Don't Actually Own A Reset Button, But I Am Going to Pretend I Do. I Shall Hit It Today After Grading (If I Finish) and I Will Sever from the Insanity

My Friday for grading was a failure. Why? Bussing fiasco 2026 when school districts push against field trips and make payment for buses virtually impossible. If the university would allow me to take out cash, I would and I'd drive it to the schools so they can pay for the buses, because they no longer allow for 3rd parties to pay for buses - it must come from the school. So, now the paper work goes between three entities, all with layered bureaucracy. I just shake my head in disbelief. I have funding. It's for buses. Let me pay you. 

Nope. Now, it's weeks of additional paper work and waiting. I always shake my head and colleagues and administrators who don't understand. They don't understand because they send such work to others to take care of and report back to them. I don't have such help. I once did, but it's dwindled over the years and has never been replaced.

I do know, that the pace I've been keeping for over two years (2? more like 15) needs to slow down. I think I'm more over the edge than usual because of the two sections of research over the winter break. There has not been down time in way over a year.

I will not be teaching in June. I am separating. I will have to prepare CWP work, but I need the summer months to restore faith in what matters, what is good, and what is possible. 

Today it shall rain. I will grade. I can't let anything distract me because it needs to get done; afterwards, I still have mountains to accomplish, but I can separate it from students, the departmental demands, the planning, the teaching, and the assessing. I should be able to breathe.

I am so ready to reset.