Faculty in Focus: Allison Lee, High School English Teacher

Available in Audio:

Long before she became an English teacher, Allison Lee was already collecting words. As a teenager, she kept scraps of paper with favorite quotes in a shoebox under her bed, saving the lines that moved her. Decades later, that same love of language still finds its way into her classroom—sometimes simply in the form of a poem she reads or shares because she loves it.

Allison earned her bachelor’s degree in English and French literature from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in education from Vanderbilt University. Her career as an international educator has since taken her to schools and communities across South America, the Caribbean, and Asia before bringing her and her family to Graded.

In this issue of The Graded Gazette, Allison shares how a shared passion for Brazilian culture brought her and her husband together, and how that love inspired their children’s names. She also reveals some of her favorite books, reflects on the many places she has called home, and shares the experiences that have shaped her as an educator, reader, traveler, and writer.
 

What inspired you to become an English teacher? 

I have always loved language, especially poetry. As a teenager, I kept a shoebox under my bed filled with mementos and quotes from poems I jotted down on scraps of paper. When university rolled around, studying English literature was a natural fit. As for teaching, I’ve wanted to be an educator since I was young, so combining that calling with my passion for literature felt like a good fit.
 

What do you love about teaching High School English? 

Teaching is a perfect mix of the content I love and the age group I enjoy being around! I find adolescence to be such a significant part of one’s life, and the lessons we learn during these years are quite profound. It is meaningful to be a part of a young person’s life—to nurture their growth as individuals and as thinkers. I love the energy of a classroom, and when those collective moments of insight occur—those “aha” moments—they make all the hours of planning and marking worthwhile.
 

What do you hope your students take with them from your English classes? 

I hope they leave with an appreciation for language and literature—for art, poetry, and the beauty and power of the written word. I also hope they leave questioning more than they thought they knew and being more open to other people’s perspectives.

 

 

What are some of your favorite books?

I love anything by Elena Ferrante, the Italian author of the Neapolitan Quartet: My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, and The Story of the Lost Child. Recently, I read Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun and found it incredibly moving. One of my favorites from the past few years is Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. I am also a longtime Donna Tartt fan and have been waiting for a new book from her for over 10 years, since she published The Goldfinch.

Some books have also been formative in my life as a reader and thinker. In college, those were The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. These two texts and authors opened my eyes to playful structure, stream of consciousness, and the idea that literature is a necessary art because it expresses more than a story—it captures the human condition from its lowest to its highest points.

Lastly, I think Viet Thanh Nguyen is one of the most important writers today, and his two novels, The Sympathizer and The Committed, are nothing short of brilliant. To quote his nameless protagonist in The Committed: “You know what you do not know. But what do you not know that you do not know? And what do you already know that you refuse to know?” Nguyen really pushes his readers to consider uncomfortable realities and acknowledge our shortcomings—not to dwell on them, but to then do something about them.
 

You have lived and taught abroad for 15 years. What were some of your most memorable moments?

The most profound moment was giving birth to my daughter in Bogotá, Colombia. We found the city and the country to be so special, and we will always carry Colombia in our hearts. We have been very fortunate to live in three of the most biodiverse countries in the world: Colombia, Peru, and now Brazil!

A very special memory was visiting the Tambopata region of the Peruvian Amazon, a remote reserve deep in the jungle accessible only by boat. My mother joined us. Our lodging had only three walls, so we felt deeply immersed in the surrounding environment. Looking at the stars at night was truly a gift!

While living in the Dominican Republic, another beautiful memory was visiting Samaná Bay in February, when humpback whales congregate annually for their mating and birthing season. We were lucky enough to see them breaching alongside our boat and later from the shore.

Arguably, one of the most impactful experiences was chaperoning an 11th-grade CWW trip to Borneo, Malaysia, where we traveled to Sarawak and stayed in an Iban longhouse. We had the opportunity to experience the daily life and traditions of this Indigenous community, share meals, and work alongside Iban house members to build two stairways connecting the river to the 150-meter-long longhouse. It was an absolutely unique and powerful experience.

 

 

Tell us about your special connection to Brazil—including your children’s names and how you met your husband, Dave. 

Dave and I met in the spring of 2001 in the Bay Area of California. He was practicing capoeira, and I had joined a Brazilian dance group. We actually met at a parade! Our shared love of Brazilian dance, culture, and music created an immediate connection.

As for our children’s names, our son, Baden, is named after the brilliant Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell de Aquino, and our daughter, Izaura, is named after the song “Izaura” by João Gilberto. I suppose you could say we have loved Brazil for well over 25 years. It is quite fitting that we are actually living here now!
 

What is a moment from your teaching career that made you feel especially proud? 

Honestly, there isn’t one singular moment that stands out. During my previous teaching post in Kuala Lumpur, I was asked to give the commencement speech, which was a very touching and meaningful moment for me as a teacher. However, I’ve come to realize that it’s not only the big, celebratory moments that make a teaching career memorable. Often, it’s the small moments that stay with you: when a student finally makes progress after struggling with something, or when a student unexpectedly expresses their appreciation for your work and dedication.
 

What is a hobby or passion of yours outside of the classroom that your students might be surprised to learn about? 

I don’t think I’m all that surprising of a person, but my students might be surprised to learn that I adore house music and have been a longtime househead since the ’90s. In fact, I love many different genres of music, including hip-hop, indie, classical, and, of course, many types of Brazilian music.

I’ve also had a few unexpected hobbies and adventures over the years. I had a short stint as a skateboarder and have run two full marathons. Right now, I’m hoping (I haven’t started yet!) to play the piano again after not playing since I was 16.
 

One of your favorite sites in the world is Pisac in Peru's Sacred Valley. Tell us about your connection to this place.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were working at Colegio Roosevelt in Lima, Peru. Since we were completely online for the 2021–22 school year, our family decided to retreat to Pisac for several weeks, and we ended up spending two and a half months surrounded by the beautiful mountains of the Sacred Valley. The small town of Pisac is absolutely stunning, vibrating with mountain energy at 2,972 meters above sea level. For us, it became a refuge from the strict lockdown in Lima. We hardly saw anyone during our time there. Most days, our closest neighbors were the horses and cows grazing in the field beside the home we were renting.

 

 

What is the story behind how you adopted your dog during the pandemic?

Vida is our six-year-old West Highland White Terrier. We got her in May 2020, during the strict COVID-19 lockdown in Lima. It was a very difficult and uncertain time for all of us, and Vida brought a sense of brightness and joy that we desperately needed. She continues to be everyone’s favorite at home, always giving cuddles, smiles, and her comforting presence. Vida, like her name, reminds us to appreciate life!
 

When you aren't grading essays or planning lessons, how do you like to spend your time exploring Brazil?

Since I am still very new to Brazil, I am just making my way around São Paulo. It is great to get out and explore the city. We have already ventured beyond the city to São Bento do Sapucaí in the mountains and to Juquehy Beach, and I am looking forward to exploring even more of São Paulo and greater Brazil this year!

One thing we are especially excited about is the variety of music events and shows here. In my first year, I went to five concerts and attended numerous blocos during Carnaval. One of my favorite bands of all time, New Order, is coming to São Paulo in November, so I’m already looking forward to that! We also recently bought a record player, and we are intent on growing our record collection by visiting many record shops around São Paulo.
 

Your hobbies include dancing, cooking, and writing. Tell us what you love about each of those activities.

Well, I used to dance a lot, but not as much anymore! My love and passion for music remain, however.

Cooking brings me peace and comfort. For me, it is also a way to express love and connect with others. My father is Chinese, and this is a strong aspect of Chinese culture: love is shown through food.

As for writing, it’s something I care about deeply. I have always loved the written word and the way language can be shaped to create meaning, evoke a particular mood, and capture the human experience. That said, I don’t write as much as I’d like to, but I hope to find a writing group soon to help me build a regular writing routine. After all, it’s poetry that got me here in the first place.