I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York, and have lived in Manhattan all of my adult life. With my husband, Alan Shapiro—jazz pianist and music teacher—I live now on the Lower East Side. I graduated from CCNY magna cum laude with a major in linguistics, and later, earned an MA from Hunter College. I began my study of Aesthetic Realism in consultations, and it was my great honor to attend classes with Eli Siegel. Now, as an Aesthetic Realism associate, I am studying in the professional classes with the Chairman of Education, Ellen Reiss, in preparation to teach this needed education.
After many years of teaching English in New York City, I retired. I’m proud to have given workshops about the success of the Aesthetic Realism Teaching Method as part of in-school professional development, as well as at numerous conferences for English educators. Many have been for the National Council of Teachers of English and its affiliates in New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Among these workshops are: “The Opposites Make English Come Alive!” and “Comedy, Poetry and Justice to People.”
I want other women—and, of course, men too—to learn what I’ve learned from Aesthetic Realism, and I’m very glad to tell of this at public seminars at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation. You can read here some of my papers, including: “A Woman’s Determination: Right or Wrong?”; “Independence & Need in Our Lives: How Can They Make Sense?”; “True Self-Expression & What Interferes,” “Care for Yourself & Justice to Others—Do They Have to Fight?” In some of these papers, I’ve discussed literary works I love: Harper Lee’s American classic To Kill a Mockingbird; “The Necklace” by Guy De Maupassant; Edith Wharton’s The Custom of the Country, and John Steinbeck’s powerful novel The Grapes of Wrath. In other papers, I’ve spoken about important women in history.
I love literature—particularly poetry and classic novels; photography; music; movies, and cooking. In the past few years, I’ve also begun designing jewelry. My husband and I enjoy exploring New York City and State, as well as traveling to other parts of the US and abroad. We like spending time at the beach, in the mountains, in the countryside, and in bustling cities. And we also like being at home in the company of our very sweet cat Cordelia.