My name is Michele Hearn and I am from the awesome city of San Antonio, Texas. Currently, I serve as an English as a Second Language (ESL) coordinator in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. 

My educational journey began at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, where I earned my bachelor’s degree. Today, I have nearly two decades of experience in the field of public education and am enthusiastically pursuing a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics at Texas A&M University-Commerce (TAMUC) in Commerce, Texas. I am driven by my unwavering passion for language and its practical applications, especially for the Emerging Bilingual Students I work with.

My interest in the Graduate Assistant Researcher (GAR) position working with the Digital Rhetoric Privacy Collective (DRPC) stems from my eagerness to examine how teachers can enhance digital literacy throughout education. Additionally, as a person of color, I am deeply invested in the social justice aspect of the DRC’s mission. Furthermore, to the DRPC I bring the perspective of a public educator who has witnessed students grappling with the ever-changing challenges in public education. My ultimate goal is to ensure that every child, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has equal access to a safe and high-quality education.

I am genuinely thrilled to be a part of the DRPC mission to promote digital awareness among educators and the public. My specific focus within the DRPC mission is to extend this awareness to students and parents within our public school system. Together, we can empower our community with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.