Kyle Vaughn

Kyle Vaughn is the author of Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises (NCTE Books, 2018) and the co-author-photographer of A New Light in Kalighat (US State Department, 2013), which was featured by the Half the Sky Movement. His poems have appeared in publications such as Adbusters, Matter, The Boiler, Vinyl, Confrontation, Firewheel Editions' Introduction to the Prose Poem, and The Portable Poetry Workshop by Jack Myers. His prose has appeared in English Journal, where his article "Reading the Literature of War: A Global Perspective on Ethics" won the Paul and Kate Farmer Award for article of the year. His photography has appeared in Annalemma and Holon and has been featured by The Impossible Project and Lomography. As an educator, his career spans over 18 years; over 20 distinct courses in the areas of English, Humanities, and the Arts; over every age group, from 5 to 65+ (though primarily at the secondary level); and over the entire world, from the southern United States to India. His years in independent schools have been focused on designing curriculum to support more creative, engaging, and globally-centered courses. His globally-focused curriculum was a key component in assisting colleague Rick Dunn in establishing Parish Episcopal School's Parish Abroad program, through which he and Mr. Dunn led students to India and Peru for Global Leadership experiences. His leadership in the area of student publications led the Hockaday school's literary-arts magazine Vibrato to numerous awards from the NCTE, CSPA, and NSPA, who inducted Vibrato into its Scholastic Press Hall of Fame. Kyle also revised the NSPA's 2008 edition of its Magazine Guidebook. His Creative Writing curriculum served as the source material for his NCTE book, Lightning Paths. In addition to publishing articles and a book with the National Council of Teachers of English, he has led professional development in several settings, including at the Global Education Forum. He currently serves as English Department Chair for Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas.

"Great teachers are not necessarily systematic thinkers. The very act of teaching is against this."--Theodore Roethke My job is to stir and light students' subconscious minds, to help them dismantle and repair their conscious minds, to spring them from the madhouse of habit. I teach class as if it were a living poem.

Awards Stephens Award for Excellence in Teaching (2019), awarded by Little Rock’s City Education Trust Paul and Kate Farmer Award (2011), awarded by the National Council of Teachers of English in recognition of one of two best articles published in the 2010-2011 academic year in English Journal (for my article “Reading the Literature of War: A Global Perspective on Ethics”) John Jaglom Gardner Award for Poetry—1997 Beall Poetry Festival, Baylor University Numerous awards for literary-arts magazines, particularly Hockaday’s Vibrato, from the NSPA, CSPA, and NCTE Conference Presentations, Grants, Travel Programs, and Seminars “From Homer to Hip-Hop: Oral Traditions as a Gateway to Literature and Literacy” (Poetry Program in NYC Schools funded by Matissse Foundation and administered by City Lore): Advisory Board member, 2019-2023 (5-year appointment) NCTE Annual Convention: presented a session titled Creating Eclectic Poetry Prompts—November 2018 National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute (participant): A Reverence for Words: Understanding Muslim Cultures Through the Arts—New York, NY / City Lore / NYU, summer 2018 Penn Graduate School of Education and Asia Society’s 2015 Global Education Forum: presented a session titled “Students Taking Action on Global Issues” (invited by and sponsored by the U.S. State Department) India Summer Teacher Program (American Councils for International Education)—Kolkata, summer 2012 Hockaday Travel Grant (summer travel to India)—summer 2005

Southern Methodist University, MA English Baylor University, BS Ed English

Extensive list of publications and other work available at www.kylevaughn.org.