About Mrs. Burbridge

Biography

I have been teaching since 1995. I first taught Language Arts at Mililani High School, in Mililani, Hawai'i. I taught 9th grade Language Arts, 10 grade Language Arts, 11/12th grade American Literature, Speech Communications, Argumentation and Debate, and Creative Writing. In 1998 I started teaching Speech and English at Kamehameha Schools, in Honolulu. I taught Speech Communication until 2000, and then moved full time into the English Department. I taught Grade 11 American Literature, Grade 12 Fiction Writing, Grade 12 Sports Literature, Grade 12 American Satire, Grade 12 Sexism in Literature, Grade 12 Works of Shakespeare, and Grade 12 Poetry Writing.

My writing career started in 2004. I started writing when I left theatre and began to get my work published through local presses. My first was a piece called “Miss World” which was published in 2004 by Bamboo Ridge Press. I also won “Best New Writer (to Bamboo Ridge)” for my story. They also published a short story called “The Finder” in 2005, and I also read an abridged version of “The Finder” on a Hawaii Public Radio show called “Aloha Shorts.”have also been published by ‘Oiwi: A Native Hawaiian Journal, Volumes 3 and 4 my poem “Howl at the Womb, with thanks to Allen Ginsberg” was published in Volume 3: Huliau, and my short story “The Cave Man” was published in 2010 ‘Oiwi 4, Kupa‘a Makou ma hope o ka ‘Aina (We Stand Firm Behind the Land) — Kanaka Maoli Voices on Annexation, Statehood, and Ceded Lands. The cool thing about ‘Oiwi is that they only publish Native Hawaiian writers.In 2009, I worked with a hui (group) of writers who put together scenes, poems, and monologues for a play called The Statehood Project. My piece called “The Dance” opened the production for Kumu Kahua theatre. “The Dance” was also included in the Fat Ulu publication of the same name.My short story "The Finder" and a writing lesson plan was published by Fat Ulu Productions in their textbook "CREATIVE WRITING ANTHOLOGY GUIDE FOR SECONDARY EDUCATORS."

Autumn House Press published my poem "Mother May I" in their textbook New America Spring 2013.

I was also published in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in their “Goddess Speaks” column about my student's love for the novel Twilight.

My biggest writing accomplishment would be my blog, The Five-0 Redux, a "Hawaii Five-0" blog for The Honolulu Star Advertiser, the major newspaper in Hawai'i.

I also was a Contributing Editor and writer for the website Sweatpants and Coffee. I wrote the Travel blog "Off The Rock" as well as other features. I recently wrote a blog about "Snowpocalypse 2014." My poetry, book reviews, and fiction have also been published on the site.

I am married to USN Chief Petty Officer (Retired) Patrick Burbridge, and we have one son, Dakota Hulu'ili. I was raised in Hawai'i and attended the very same school that I taught at for 15 years-- Kamehameha Schools on O'ahu. Students at Kamehameha must have Native Hawaiian blood to attend the college preparatory private school. I graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where I studied Theatre, Speech, English, and Teaching.

Our family moved to Hoover in 2013 and I started teaching at Bumpus shortly after my son started his 7th grade year. He's now at Hoover High School and he runs Cross Country and Track. At Bumpus, I take care of the social media feeds and help coach the Cross Country team with Coach Doran.