About Me

Beth Fehlbaum is an English teacher of 25 years, remote instructor/tutor since 2020, and a freelance book editor.
As an educator/tutor, she specializes in working with college students, college-bound high schoolers, At-Risk populations, struggling learners, and people for whom English is a second language.
Beth began her editorial business in 2020, having recognized the need for those she works with to understand the “why” behind the corrections she suggests, and realizing that her experiences as an educator and author makes her both easy to work with and incredibly thorough in both line-editing and developmental notes. Since 2008, Beth has experienced the gamut of publishing outlets: traditional, hybrid, and self.

Beth utilizes her grammar-goddess-like skills to provide editing services, specializing in working with Indie authors of Young Adult, New Adult, and Romantic genres.

Beth is the author of the YA novels Find the Moon, Big Fat Disaster, The Patience Trilogy (Courage in Patience, Hope in Patience, and Truth in Patience), and co-author of the creative non-fiction book Trauma Recovery: Sessions with Dr. Matt (Ayni Books).
Authenticity and finding one’s voice are frequent themes in Beth’s work, and they are absolutely essential themes in her life, as well.

Beth has a B.A. in English, Minor in Secondary Education, and an M.Ed. in Reading.

Beth is in-demand as an author-panelist, having presented/appeared at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference, the American Library Association’s annual conference, YALSA, N.C.T.E./ALAN, and numerous YA book festivals. She’s a member of The Author’s Guild, SCBWI, the Editorial Freelancers’ Association, Romance Writers of America, and the Texas Federation of Teachers.
She loves doing school visits and meeting teens, teachers, and librarians!

Beth lives in the woods of East Texas in a house on a slice of family acreage. The home was built by her family over one very hot humid summer, a task she wishes never to repeat again. This sanctuary-of-sorts is lined by pine trees, and the woods are inhabited by raccoons, possums, and feral cats.  All of these creatures  appear to  consider Beth their cat-food-providing goddess. There is no place she would rather be.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Elizabeth “Beth” Fehlbaum

COMPETENCIES

  • Instructing others in the craft of writing and composition and in decoding text.  
  • Designing instruction with varied learning styles and competencies in mind
  • Efficiently interacting respectfully with others in a classroom and collegial setting
  • Setting goals and using creativity and ingenuity to achieve them
  • Inspiring others to know they have the ability to succeed
  • Making all text relatable to students and others by bringing in real-world, familiar situations
  • Creating cross-curricular thematic units
  • Coaching model of writing instruction
  • Fiction Writing, especially YA fiction (professional author of five novels and one creative non-fiction book)
  • Revising and editing documents for publication
  • Developmental editing

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

  • Integrating technology into lessons by including such elements as PowerPoints, videos, websites/blogging, student-held devices for instant feedback, and social media.
  • Utilizing technology that takes into account student interests, inspires enthusiasm for learning, and encourage active engagement in the task
  • Enhanced familiarity with Microsoft Office and Google Docs particularly in using features to give digital feedback to students on their writing through the features used widely by the publishing industry.
  • Highly proficient in Google Classroom, Google Slides, Google Forms, and Google Meets

EDUCATION

Texas A & M University at Commerce, Commerce, Texas, 2006.

Master of Education

Major: Education

Emphasis: Reading

The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 1998.

Bachelor of Arts

Major: English

Minor: Secondary Education

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Secondary English 6-12
  • Secondary English Language Arts 8-12
  • Secondary Reading 6-12
  • English as a Second Language 1-12
  • Elementary Self-Contained
  • Social Studies 4-8
  • Social Studies 8-12

LANGUAGES                

English, first language



TEACHING EXPERIENCE

     
Texas Virtual School, Lone Star Virtual Academy, October 31, 2022-Present

  • Create English lesson plans, weekly video, and implement through both asynchronous and 1:1 live instruction
  • Manage caseload of co-teaching 500+ students
  • Coach students to improve and strengthen reading and writing ability
  • Engage students in short stories and connect same to their lives and current events in relevant ways
  • Meet all requirements with respect to paperwork
  • Frequently contact parents and guardians via text, email, phone calls, and Google Meet

      Crandall High School, August 2022-October 31, 2022

  • Create English lesson plans and implement
  • Manage 6 class periods of approximately 30 students per day
  • Coach students to improve and strengthen reading and writing ability
  • Engage students in short stories and connect same to their lives and current events in relevant ways
  • Meet all requirements with respect to paperwork
  • Frequently contact parents and guardians

      Kerens Secondary School, August 2021-June 2022

      Teacher: 6th Grade Writing & 7th Grade Reading; Daily STAAR Tutorial class (spiraled review with 7th
& 8th graders)

  • Create English Language Arts & Writing lesson plans
  • Manage seven class periods approximately 14 students per day
  • Coach students to improve and strengthen writing ability
  • Engage students in reading interest through diverse, creative methods
  • Extensive training in remediating weak writing skills; produced a grade-wide Anthology with

6th grade students


     Remote/online educator, December 2020-Present
      Tutor (on a part-time basis) all grade levels. In the past I have taught Advanced 6th Grade Language Arts,                           College Essay Writing, Novel  Writing. I have worked for Elite Studies, Varsity Tutors, School at Home, and             Outschool.

      Terrell High School, Terrell ISD, Terrell, Texas, August 2020-November 2020

      Teacher: 10th & 11th Grade English

  • Create English lesson plans and implement
  • Manage 6 class periods of approximately 20 students per day
  • Coach students to improve and strengthen reading and writing ability
  • Engage students in novels and connect same to their lives and current events in relevant ways
  • Meet all requirements with respect to paperwork
  • Frequently contact parents and guardians


Malakoff High School, Malakoff Independent School District, Malakoff, Texas, 2015-July 2020

      Teacher: 9th Grade English/Honors English, 10th Grade English/Honors English/ College/Career Readiness (Remediation for the TSI test)

  • Create English lesson plans and implement
  • Manage 8 class periods of approximately 20 students per day
  • Coach students to improve and strengthen writing ability
  • Engage students in contemporary novels (Speak, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, Hate List) & world literature (Night) and connect these novels to their lives and current events in relevant ways
  • Founded Creative Writing Club and led school-wide creation of an anthology, This is Who We Are
  • Coached UIL Ready Writing
  • Sponsored NHS for four years (taking a break from that now)
  • Wrote and received grant for Creative Writing Club, two years in a row

Crandall Middle School, Crandall Independent School District, Crandall, Texas, 2014-2015.

Teacher: 7th Grade English Language Arts, Advanced English Language Arts, and Reading

  • Create English Language Arts & Writing lesson plans for English department
  • Manage seven class periods approximately 25 students per day
  • Coach students to improve and strengthen writing ability
  • Engage students in reading interest through diverse, creative methods
  • Extensive training in remediating weak writing skills; raised campus writing scores on benchmarks more than 10 points from this time last year
  • Founded & moderated semester-long After School Creative Writing Workshop; produced bound anthology of student work

Athens Intermediate School, Athens Independent School District, Athens, Texas, 2006-2014

Teacher: 4th and 5th Grade English Language Arts and Reading to ESL Learners in the Dual Language Program

  • Transitioned ESL students from writing/reading Spanish to English
    • Propelled students to write comparably to English speakers      
    • Administered TELPAS writing test yearly and assessed level of English attainment
    • Engaged students to learn by making content relevant to their lives
    • Utilized diverse, creative methods to entice students to love reading
    • Extensive training in ESL methods; Lead 4Ward training in Reading and Writing
    • Coached UIL Writing

A.C. New Middle School, Mesquite Independent School District, Mesquite, Texas, 2004-2006.

Teacher: 7th grade English Language Arts, Reading, and ESL Reading

  • Created English Language Arts/Writing/Reading/ESL Reading Lesson Plans
    • Managed six class periods per day of approximately 32 students per class
    • Coached students to become thoughtful, in-depth writers
    • Engaged students in reading interest through diverse, creative methods
    • Trained in New Jersey Writing Project; Campus Wellness Representative
    • Held After School Creative Writing Workshop as part of graduate studies; produced bound anthology of student work 

Kemp Junior High School, Kemp Independent School District, Kemp, Texas, 2003-2004.

Teacher: 7th Grade English Language Arts and Pre-AP English

  • Created English Language Arts/Writing/Reading/ESL Reading Lesson Plans
  • Managed six class periods per day of approximately 20 students per class
  • Coached students to stronger writing ability
  • Engaged students in reading interest through diverse, creative methods
  • Guided students to stronger writing skills through producing classroom magazine

Maypearl Junior High School, Maypearl Independent School District, Maypearl, Texas, 2001-2003.

Teacher: 6th Grade Reading; 7th Grade English Language Arts and Reading; 7th and 8th

Grade Compensatory Language Arts

  • Created English Language Arts/Writing/Reading/Compensatory Language Arts Lesson Plans
  • Managed block scheduled classes of approximately 15-20 students per class
  • Coached students to stronger writing ability
  • Engaged students in reading interest through diverse, creative methods
  • Extensive Training in Holistic Scoring; Trainer of Trainers
  • Produced School-Wide Anthology of Student Work as a fund raiser for an administrator’s husband who was injured in an accident
  • Produced classroom magazines unique to each class

DeSoto West Junior High School, DeSoto Independent School District, DeSoto, Texas, 2000-2001.

Teacher, 8th Grade Reading; 7th & 8th Grade Reading Improvement

  • Created Reading & Reading Improvement Lesson Plans
  • Managed six class periods per day of approximately 32 students per class
  • Engaged students in reading interest through diverse, creative methods

Eastridge Elementary School, Red Oak Independent School District, Red Oak, Texas, 1999-2000

Teacher, 3rd Grade Self-Contained

  • Created lesson plans to make English and other subjects relevant to reluctant and advanced learners
  • Managed self-contained class of approximately 25 students
  • Engaged students in reading interest across the content areas through diverse, creative methods

Red Oak Junior High School, Red Oak Independent School District, Red Oak, Texas 1998-1999

Teacher, 8th Grade English and Honors English

  • Designed novel units that encompassed a variety of learning styles
  • Managed 7 class periods per day of approximately 28 students per class
  • Sponsored Student Council, recognized as the most active, campus-involved student council in years

PROFESSIONAL WRITING EXPERIENCE

Author of Contemporary (Realistic) Young Adult Fiction Novels and co-author of trauma recovery book

Founder of a Group Website for Traditionally Published Authors of “Gritty” YA Fiction, UncommonYA (no longer active)

PUBLISHED NOVELS:

       Fehlbaum, Beth, Find the Moon. Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, ISBN # 978-1-958640-29-6,
            January, 2023.

Fehlbaum, Beth, Big Fat Disaster, Simon & Schuster, ISBN # 978-1440570483, April, 2014.

  • Named to The Spirit of Texas Reading List-High School, 2015-2016
  • Starred Kirkus Review

       Fehlbaum, Beth, Truth in Patience, Steady On Books, ISBN #  978-1729165300 , March 2016

      Fehlbaum, Beth, Hope in Patience, WestSide Books, Everbind, Inc., ISBN # 978-1934813416, October, 2010; then                  released through Steady On Books, ISBN # 978-172916554, March 2016

  • Second book in The Patience Trilogy
  • 2011 YALSA (Young Adult Library Association) Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers

Fehlbaum, Beth, Courage in Patience, Kunati, Inc., ISBN # 978-1601641564, September, 2008; then released through Steady On Books, ISBN # 978-1729165485, March 2016

  • First book in The Patience Trilogy

FREELANCE EDITING COURSES COMPLETED THROUGH EDITORIAL FREELANCERS ASSOCIATION

  • Building a Client Base to Weather Any Storm
  • Freelancing 101
  • Book Mapping for Developmental Editors
  • Introduction to Children’s Literature
  • Developmental Editing of Fiction: Intermediate
  • Developmental Editing of Fiction: Beginning
  • Copyediting Fiction
  • Copyediting: Beginning
  • Copyediting: Intermediate


PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • The Author’s Guild
  • Texas Federation of Teachers
  • Romance Writers of America
  • Editorial Freelancers Association
  • SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators)