Gail L. Oxford

Gail is a retired educator of 45 years and the author of, A Purpose for Patches. She has dedicated most of her life to education, ranging from; gifted teacher of grades K-8, special education teacher of learning disabilities and intellectual disability K-8, TOA director of Special Education, first-grade, seventh and eighth-grade teacher of; ELA, physical science, life science, and social studies. Gail has always felt that being an educator to children was her passion, not a job.

Her awards in her career have been; Gifted Teacher of the Year for the state of Arizona, Yavapai County Teacher of the Year, Buckeye Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Buckeye Elementary School Passionate About Student Success, and multiple other educational awards.

Gail often shares her favorite saying to her; students, coworkers, peers, family members, and friends,

"Your decisions determine your destiny, make wise choices!"

She can often be found outdoors enjoying her love for nature and being among God's creatures and creations. Her adventurous side has her fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, 4-wheeling, horseback riding, and white water rafting.

Gail loves reading and has always had a strong desire to write a book of her own, especially a children's book. Having had the pleasure to mentor many amazing children in her educational walk, she was inspired to enlighten the world and normalize para-abilities and neurodiversity through her writing. In this manner, A Purpose for Patches was born--her debut children's book, with more to come!

Gail gives credit to illustrator Melissa Fox, for her creativity and talent in her artwork in, A Purpose for Patches.

Melissa has always loved paper, scissors, color, and art. As a certified teacher for 40 years, she has enjoyed guiding children to express their imagination and creativity through various mediums. Whether she is within the classroom walls or exploring world cultures, Melissa continues to look at art through the eyes of a child, by noticing the color, shape, and passion of the creator.

Melissa has had a variety of teaching experiences including; K-6 Art in Cincinnati, Ohio, Fine Arts and Pottery at Northern Kentucky Adult Ed Vocational School, K-8 Art at Littleton Elementary School District in Avondale, Arizona, Educational Methods at University of Phoenix, staff development in several Arizona schools, and an LLC Educational Specialist to Arizona educators of the English Structured Immersion training required by the state of Arizona.

Melissa's educational highlights are: Westside Impact Art Teacher of the Year, implementations of a variety of art programs and art curriculums that include; an art curriculum aligning Arizona standards district-wide, a national "Learn to Read through the Arts" program-grant written, CRS Art Initiative-grant written, gifted art program, and Community School Programs in the Arts. Melissa has been a Maricopa County Parks and Recreation supervisor of children's programs and a cachet maker of First Day Covers watercolors. Melissa is currently a DIBELS reading testing team member.