Kathrina is passionate about making books accessible for all learners. Prior to 2020, she taught elementary students (P-6) and multilingual learners (K-12) in Spain, New York, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Kathrina also developed and led the summer Literacy Academy, for middle school students, from 2019-2023. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor of Education at Bemidji State University. Her research focuses on students’ motivation to read, rural education, and supporting multilingual learners. When she is not reading or writing, she can be found baking and spending time with her family.

Danielle is a lifelong lover of reading and writing, so it’s hardly surprising that she became an English teacher! She has taught secondary and college English in Alaska, Tennessee, Colorado, New Mexico, and Minnesota. She is currently an Associate Professor of English at Bemidji State University and coordinates the English Education program. Her research focuses on culturally sustaining English language arts pedagogy.

She loves being outside, and in the summer, you can often find her on a paddleboard with her dogs or reading on her patio.

Emma Needham is a citizen of the Red Lake Nation in Northern MN, a media professional, a mother, an environmental advocate, and a pre-service educator in the Communication Arts and Literature program at St. Cloud State University. She is currently the production coordinator for Minnesota Native News and is developing training and educational curricula to help media professionals and educators better cover Indigenous peoples and communities. She plans to teach Media Literacy and Internet Safety and encourages everyone to read all texts critically (including this introduction!). She lives in central Minnesota with her husband, children, cats, and a dog. She enjoys reading poetry, Native fiction, and the story of one unfortunate Turkey Tom. Emma is the Reaching Rural Readers facilitator for June 2024’s selection, Rez Ball.

Merideth is an English Education Major at Bemidji State University. Through the university, she has been able to participate in many educational events including the Diverse Texts Conference, Student Achievement Day, and the Reaching Rural Readers Summer program. She spends most of her free time in the summer reading outside and is currently working her way through the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Meridath is s the Reaching Rural Readers facilitator for July 2024’s selection Ida in the Middle.

Allie is an English Education major at Bemidji State University. She is the Reaching Rural Readers facilitator for August 2024’s selection, Where You See Yourself.

Carli is a high school English teacher at the Area Learning Center/Lakes Recovery School in Detroit Lakes and currently a graduate student in English at Bemidji State University. She enjoys teaching American literature classics, such as Of Mice and Men and Animal Farm but also loves teaching new, modern young adult literature like Warrior Girl Unearthed, by Angeline Boulley, and Hey, Kiddo, by Jared Krocozcka. She also coaches the high school cheerleading team and enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter.