About the Author

Meet Brooke Helling, the accidental English teacher! Her experience as an educator spans 20 years and includes elementary and ESL education at both the K-12 and post-secondary level. Ten years ago, Brooke found herself running a thriving dyslexia program for a local school district in Texas and found that the linguistic skills taught to her dyslexic students served her well in teaching second language learners. She made the switch to adult ESL and has never looked back! Brooke is currently an adjunct faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis, Lindenwood University, and St. Charles Community College. She is pursuing her Doctor of Arts degree in English Pedagogy at Murray State University with an anticipated graduation date of May 2023. Her interests include educational equity, reading disorders in second language students, open educational practices, and research-based composition strategies for ESL Learners, focusing on affective components.

When Brooke is not teaching or studying, you can find her chasing boys—her boys, that is. She has four energetic sons and a husband who entertains the masses with his dad jokes.

*Photo credit: Trisha Lynn Photography