I am a retired High School English teacher now retooling for a second career in online course development. In 24 years as an ELA innovator I developed methods that work. I teach critical reading in multi-genre literature units that employ group work, Socratic discussion, media studies, and reading apprenticeship. Advanced peer review, gamified grammar instruction, and style analysis give my students voice and sophistication as writers. My courses challenged advanced (AP) students, introducing them to a life of scholarship, but my professional focus and my heart has been on reaching marginalized groups. I've worked with LGBTQ groups, teen parents, and African American students.