Meet your instructor

Hello! I am Rachel Talen.

I am an Illinois and Texas-licensed teaching professional and became a nationally published poet at a young age. My elementary school teacher, writing mentor and former Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Rodney Torreson opened up my world to poetry by saying it was like looking at life through a third eye. Ever since, I have not stopped noticing and writing about the vibrant life around me, and am passionate about teaching young students to do the same. After I found poetry, I became a better reader, writer, a more creative and empathetic person, and a better learner and friend.

I graduated from Calvin College with a BA in Business Communications '10 and National Louis University with an MAT in Elementary Education '15.

For three years, I was editor of a youth poetry website called Through the 3rd Eye. As a teenager, I won First Place in the nation in the poetry contest sponsored by VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates). In middle school, I was published in the children's section of The Lousiville Review. As a young student, I won First Place in the Junior Division of the Kent County (Grand Rapids, Michigan) Poetry Contest and as an adult, took second in that competition in 2010. My work has also appeared in The Mad Hatter, Michigan's Celebration of Poets, and several smaller anthologies.

I currently teach fourth grade literacy at an independent school in West Lake Hills.

Outside of teaching and poetry, I enjoy running, exploring my new city of Austin, and playing basketball. If we meet, I would love to strike up a conversation about traveling the world, early intervention, or teaching and learning.