Acknowledgements

I would not be the teacher or man I am today without the loving support of my mother Victoria Finley, who was the one who tæcaned me the way, encouraging me with God's love through my educational vocation in English pedagogy. I would also like to thank my father, Michael Finley, who is responsible for my love of literature from an early age. Always will I hold dear the memories of going into Gulf Gate Public Library after elementary school and spending hours amongst the bookshelves and attending book club. Dad, thank you for your loving support of my literary life. Without you, I wouldn't know what "readers are leaders" truly means. 

I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Theoni Soublis and Megan Civil of the University of Tampa's Education department. Much of my pedagogical foundation and confidence in teaching comes from their formative influence during my undergraduate years.