|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ashley June Levanway
 |
Ashley's life is a journey
she is confident enough to lead and smart enough on occasion to follow.
She was born in Oxford, Mississippi, on August 6, 1968. After living
in various places around the state of Mississippi, she, her mother and
stepfather settled in her mother's hometown of Calhoun City. There she
stayed from sixth grade to high school graduation. Her school days
were marked by good grades, being first chair flautist in the band,
president of the Beta honor society and a penchant for multi-colored hair,
loud music and "creatively ripped clothes." For college, she pursued a degree in film and photography from the University of Missouri's prestigious School of Journalism. When the film and photography department left to form their own, unaccredited degree, Ashley went stuck with journalism. Upon graduation she returned to Mississippi and eventually to the staff of the Gautier Independent where she was Managing Editor. This position comprised to entire staff of the Gautier Independent. |
| As glamorous as a bedroom community for a major shipbuilding area of Mississippi sounds, Ashley sought the opportunity to use her writing and graphic layout skills more fully. She followed the lead of some of her classmates and moved to Chicago. At first, she made her way by selling furniture and doing quick print shop layout. Eventually, she found a job with Wednesday Journal, Inc., the publisher of the Oak Park newspaper, Chicago Parent and various area guides. She worked as a graphic designer and did writing and photography on the side. | |
 |
Although the Wednesday
Journal provided the job (if not the salary) she was looking for, Ashley
felt that she wasn't making enough of a difference in her community.
She thought teaching would be the best way to use her skills and after
volunteering at an inner
city Chicago school, she was undeterred. She received her Masters of
Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in
the Teacher Corps program with a 4.0. She spent a year of teaching
in the Mississippi Delta before settling in northern Mississippi at Hernando High School, where she teaches English, sponsors
the school newspaper, teaches broadcast communications, and the facilitates
the distance learning classes. In her second year as sponsor, she was named
advisor of the year by the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association. She recently completed her portfolio
for the National Board Professional Teacher Standards, the highest
certification a teacher can have. Ashley is a photographer and a reader of science fiction, politics, Southern literature and graphic novels. She can frequently be found on her PowerBook, ipod, outdoors with her Australian Shepherd Charlie, or in the garden with her hostas. Toof is looking forward to joining Ashley's journey and seeing where it will take them next, or where they will take it. |
 |
   |
email: ashbelle@mac.com
