ABSTRACT
Ten years ago, I never would have imagined writing this chapter. In 2006, after five years teaching high-school English at a rural public school in New York, I took a leave of absence to pursue doctoral study. Initially, my intent was to gain more knowledge and skills to apply in the secondary classroom. I wanted to better serve my diverse students. (I taught in a school district where one-fourth of the students are Native American and classes are inclusive.) My goal was not to leave the high-school classroom for the halls of academia, but here I am. That professional journey is a story for another time.
