Lauren Roedy Vaughn has an undergraduate degree in drama, a master’s degree in special education, and a learning specialist credential with a subject qualification in English. For the past two decades, she has worked in the United States and abroad as an educator and writing specialist. She served as a Board Member for the International Dyslexia Association’s Los Angeles branch and is a member of the Association of Educational Therapists. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, along with other civic leaders, presented her with The Walk of Heart’s Teaching Award in 2005. She is the author of the young adult novel, OCD, The Dude, and Me, which made the American Library Association’s list of best books for teens and the Capitol Choice Selections for 2014. She loves teaching The Jane Schaffer Writing Program because its explicit structure and collaborative nature empower both teachers and students to raise the level of discourse and critical thinking within a classroom and beyond.