Ann Eisenstein is a teacher, psychologist, author, mentor and cancer survivor with a passion for mentoring and molding the minds of her students.
She grew up on a farm in Sidney, Ohio, where weekly trips to the library made it possible to explore and dream about the world beyond. She attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, graduating with a BS degree in Education, with an English and Journalism minor.
Ann taught elementary school in Ohio and California before obtaining her MEd. in School Psychology from Wright State University, Fairborn, OH. As a psychologist, she served in school systems in Texas, California, Michigan, and South Carolina, in adolescent psychiatric treatment facilities, in private practice, and for the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. She taught college level Psychology in Columbia, SC.
Ann continues to mentor at Logan Elementary, where the inspiration for her debut novel, Hiding Carly, began. She is currently writing book two of the three part series.
TEACHER:
After graduating from Miami University, there were no teaching jobs in Ohio, so I moved to Florida to accept my first teaching position. Unlike my student teaching experience, which was in the inner city of Cincinnati Ohio, this school was in a small rural area and served the children of migrant workers. My class consisted of kids in several grades with varying levels of performance. Quite a challenge for a young teacher!
I was a classroom teacher (K-9) certified in all areas of early, elementary and middle school education, and high school English and Journalism. I taught fifth and sixth grade, all subjects and middle school – sixth through eighth grades - Language Arts and Social Studies.
Although I no longer instruct in the classroom, I will always be a dedicated teacher. The experiences that I gained in the classroom proved to be a valuable asset in my practice as a psychologist.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST
I believe that many of the basic skills and qualities essential for an effective teacher are analogous to those of a School Psychologist. One must be dedicated to the concept that every child can learn and succeed. Regardless of the level where we meet each child, our patience, coupled with our passion, strives to insure our commitment to that end. Basically, each professional makes student learning the primary focus of attention and works to inspire, encourage and motivate all students to learn. As educators, we must all endeavor to see each individual as unique and valuable and to recognize and assess their strengths and weaknesses. We then will be equipped with the knowledge and insight necessary to provide each student with the tools necessary to develop intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically.
My belief in the worth and dignity of each human being is the foundation upon which I have built my ideals. Perhaps, what most sets me apart from others is my perseverance in the quest to conscientiously evaluate each child with a comprehensive and precise diagnosis, followed by an individual plan for successful learning.
As a licensed Psychologist and have worked as such in school systems with children three through twenty-one. I have also been in private practice evaluating and counseling children, adolescents and their families. Additionally, I have served as a psychologist in a psychiatric facility and for the state Department of Juvenile Justice. I have taught college level psychology and seminars on various aspects of self-concept, conflict management, addiction, gang and cult behavior, abuse and neglect and other child, adolescent and family issues. I have co-facilitated and co-authored programs on conflict management, crisis management and addiction. I have appeared on national and local television and radio discussing such topics as depression, eating disorders, gang and cult affiliation and the effects of war on children.
Specializing in child, adolescent, and family therapy, I have led a variety of seminars and workshops. Designed to assist educators, parents and lay people in working with children and families, these topics have included stress management, grief, loss and separation, child abuse and neglect, behavior management and intervention, substance abuse, and teen cult and gang behavior. I developed a comprehensive system of Crisis Management to be implemented within South Carolina Schools. In addition, I have appeared on radio and television, and spoken to school districts, businesses, and military bases, discussing such topics as depression, addiction, eating disorders, teen suicide, teen occultism, Satanism, gang behavior, media violence, child/adolescent behavior, conflict management, chronic illness, death, and stress and post-traumatic-stress disorder. I appeared with Bill Moyer on the nationally televised program, The Effects of War on Children, which aired on the eve of Operation Desert Storm.
I have designed and implemented a wide range of tutorials and teachings geared toward helping individuals enhance self-concept, increase coping skills, manage addictive behavior, and identify behavioral traits and abusive behavior in self and others. I have written grants and educational material and curricula, including manuals, workbooks, study guides and programs, which have been used in-house at various school districts.
I continue to mentor and guide children and volunteer to work with schools and other groups. Much of my mentoring is with children with Autism/Asperger’s. I am passionate about the issues facing kids today – specifically child abuse and neglect, missing and exploited children, bullying, cyberstalking, and suicide. Much of my writing is borne from those passions.
AUTHOR:
I have written psychological and educational curricula and materials, including manuals, workbooks, study guides and programs, which have been used in-house at various school districts. Articles in various local and educational newsletters and papers.
I am currently working on several projects, non-fiction articles, and juvenile and young adult books. My first juvenile fiction, Hiding Carly, is in publication.
A lot of people have asked me why I wrote HIDING CARLY. Where did I get the idea, the inspiration, and the mystery? None of my persona operates in isolation. I was mentoring a fifth grade African American boy at the time. I work a lot with kids in that community on various skills from academic (my teachery hat) to social skills and problem and conflict solving (my shrinking hat). He was not much of a talker. And struggled academically. He was from an extremely low social-economic stratum.
Along with his fifth grade peers, he was engaged in a unique program offered by the FBI, the Junior Special Agent Program. I witnessed a growing interest in what this program had to offer. He was genuinely interested in something! It was exciting – and gave us something to talk about! (Besides his baseball games – which I loved watching!)
An idea began to creep into my head about a Junior Special Agent protagonist!
I struck up a conversation with the Special Agent in charge of this program, relaying how much my mentee was learning and benefiting from it. And I mentioned “the book”! The agent agreed to an interview! A seed. A kernel. A beginning.
My love of mystery and children and the issues that affect them led me to Hiding Carly.