David Lee Finkle is the author of the Scholastic Professional books Writing Extraordinary Essays and Teaching Students to Make Writing Visual and Vivid. For nearly twenty years he has taught Language Arts in Volusia County, Florida. In 2005 he was named the Volusia County Teacher of the Year, as well as a University of Florida Distinguished Educator. Mr. Fitz, his comic strip about teaching, has been running daily in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, and online, for over ten years. He has published two young adult novels: Making My Escape, and, with his son Christopher, the fantasy novel Portents. He also teaches cartooning, animation, and fiction writing at Stetson University’s HATS program for Gifted and Talented Students. He lives in DeLand with his wife, son, and daughter.