Meet Your Journal Committee Members

got ideas?

Do you have a story to tell but aren’t sure how best to frame it? Got an amazing idea for a feature article but not sure if anyone else will think it’s amazing? Got writer’s block...or fear of writing...or just want a writing buddy? We are here for you! We strongly encourage ALL readers interested in contributing to the PEN Journal to contact the committee with questions and/or suggestions. We would be delighted to collaborate with you to help get your ideas to publication. OUR MISSION: TO UPLIFT A DIVERSE RANGE OF VOICES!

MEET YOUR JOURNAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

KRISTIN SHERMAN (she/her) lives in Los Angeles and owns a preschool, teaches early childhood education at UCLA, is a developmental editor and has published industry articles to support the role of education in forming a healthy society. Editing for PEN since 2021, she contributes to a collaborative effort for bringing educator voices into a broader conversation around the rights of citizens in the world.

SUNG-JOON (SUNNY) PAI (he/him) lives in Boston and recently completed 22 years working in Boston Public Schools as a teacher, principal, and high school administrator. He is now the Director of School and Professional Programs at Hale Education, Inc. He has co-chaired the PEN Journal Committee since 2018 and is currently President of the PEN Board of Directors. He loves having this space as a way for progressive educators to share their work and thoughts with the world.

ANDREW WILLIAMS (he/him) is a 4th and 5th grade classroom teacher at Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School in Upper Arlington, Ohio. He has co-chaired the PEN Journal Committee with Sunny since 2020 and serves as the Secretary of the PEN Board of Directors. He is passionate about helping classroom teachers share stories of the great learning they do every day with their students.

HEIDI BYRNES-CLOET (she/her) is a pre-K through third grade literacy specialist at Francis W. Parker School in Chicago, IL. She has held teaching and leadership roles from preschool to middle school in Australia (her first home) and the US (her current home). She joined the PEN Journal Committee in 2021 and is excited to collaborate with educators seeking to share their ideas with the wider progressive ed community.

DAVID FUDER (he/him) lives in Chicago but still considers Michigan home. An 8th grade English teacher at Francis W. Parker School for 20 years, he also coaches basketball, softball, and slam poets. David joined the PEN Journal Committee in 2021 and is committed to amplifying the voices and stories of progressive educators.