Trinity River Writing & Learning
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Our Staff
The TR Writing & Learning Center staff is dedicated to working with instructors and professors to help you become the best writer you can be. Our staff will provide all the tools you need to become an effective writer. In addition, we offer caring and professional attitudes that will assist you in learning the rules of writing and how to navigate the grammatical landscape of what it takes to write a great paper. Whether writing a 10-page research document or one page resume, our tutors and your effort can help you develop the writing skills that turn a good paper into a great one. Let's meet them.
Melanie George - Instructional Assistant, Certified Reading Specialist
Melanie was a former education reporter for the Port Huron Times Herald in Port Huron, Michigan, and also wrote for The Detroit News. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Wayne State University in Detroit and a Master's of Education in Reading from New York University. She worked at Scholastic, Inc., in New York doing some proofreading and copyediting, taught in elementary and middle schools, and currently tutors students in reading and writing.
She is striving to perfect the art of baking gluten-free foods for her three boys. She enjoys reading, she writes mini-skits for her kids' drama performances, and she enjoys watching foreign movies and shows. She believes that all students can learn to write well, given the right tools and strategies.
Jonathan Rose - Instructional Assistant
Jonathan Rose is a graduate of The University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, minoring in Russian and History. Jonathan has published articles in periodicals, while on staff at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Fort Worth Weekly. He has also written full time for several magazines, and feature segments for TCC Writes, a publication of the Trinity River Writing & Learning Center. He completed post graduate work at Voronezh State University, Russia and was in the English Masters program at the University of Texas at Arlington. His higher education pursuits first began at the University of California Los Angeles, where he learned he had a love for education and teaching students.
He is a native Texan, who has traveled to Russia twice for post graduate programs. After successfully completing his final semester in Russia. He had the opportunity to travel to Europe, before returning to the United States to pursue a career in education. Jonathan currently produces and directs short films, and is currently in an internship program, with a Dallas visual production company. He plans to use the skills he has learned in Dallas, and at Tarrant County College, to produce visual content that educates and promotes awareness of important issues.
Susan Alexandre - Instructional Assistant
Susan has lived in Fort Worth most of her life. She graduated from Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School in 1981. She received an Associate of Arts degree in Communications from what was then known as TCJC in 1983 and a BA in Radio/TV Communications from the University of Texas-Arlington in 1985. After working in the insurance industry for nine years, Susan felt it was time to answer her true calling to become a teacher. She received her Elementary Education certification from the University of Texas-Arlington in 1996.
Susan's education experience includes six years of elementary English/Language Arts and Reading; five years of middle school English as a Second Language in English and Literature, and six years of high school Reading, Speech, and ESL Freshman English. She also earned a dual M Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a Reading focus and in Teacher Leadership from Concordia University in 2015. She has one son, Ian, who is a career Army soldier.
James (Jimmy) Peebles - Instructional Associate
Jimmy began his education at Ouachita Baptist University before attending graduate school at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville (go, Hogs!). While there studying Shakespeare and Tolkien, he worked as an editor for a medical facility as he wrote his thesis on Lord of the Rings. He then graduated, got married, and left the country to teach in Thailand for two years.
After teaching both junior and high school students in Asia, he returned to the US to work in foster care for two years. While working in Lubbock with as many as eight children in his home, he and his wife welcomed their first child into the world, which meant they wanted to be closer to their parents for support. After relocating to Fort Worth, Jimmy has been at the Writing & Learning Center since November of 2016, and will begin teaching English at Trinity River in the Fall of 2017.
Shawn Stewart - Senior Instructional Associate & Co-Coordinator
Shawn has had breakfast overlooking the pyramids of Giza; lunch with Texas playwright Horton Foote; and dinner at the top of the World Trade Center. He’s also published articles in Cinemagic, Lucasfilm Ltd., Markee Magazine, and the Steven Spielberg Film Society.
“At the center of my life always has been one driving constant—love of writing and language,” says Shawn. “My mom was an English teacher, so it’s no surprise that education runs in my blood. This has led me to nine years’ experience in public relations, media, and communications; five years freelance writing and photography; and 20 years in higher education.
"As for me and my dad… it was going to movies together. It was as if I grew up in a movie theater, and in many ways I did. I wrote a children’s book about my years working in a movie theater. I interned at the American Film Institute in Hollywood. Two of my scripts have been optioned; one read by Christian Slater, Paramount. One day I hope, to see one of my stories on the big screen — one day."
Steven LeMons - Coordinating Director
As the coordinator of the Trinity River Writing & Learning Center, Steven is also a national speaker, accomplished writer, workshop facilitator, former director of corporate development and television host. He is also on a mission in the writing center to use his talent and experience to create more effective tools for empowering students to not only embrace writing, but to become better more effective writers and students. To Steven, it is all about our students.
Over the years, Steven has and continues to deliver keynotes and workshops inspired and generate positive change for both individuals and major organizations throughout the United States and Canada. Some of his clients have included: Maritz Performance Improvement Company; Harley-Davidson; Cadillac Motor Division; Ford Motor Company; Lion's Gate Marketing; International Service Leadership; and the Organization of Nursing Executives; and hundreds of small and medium size businesses throughout the country. His latest project,
The Journey, assists underrepresented students in the art of critical-thinking and goal accomplishment.
Steven has over 300 video segments to his credit and is the founder of TCC Writes Online Magazine, which was Trinity River's premier publication for showcasing the writing contributions of staff and students.