About Valerie

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Valerie Rivera is a retired New York State educator with over 30 years of experience teaching elementary, English Language Arts, and English as a New Language. She is also a published poet and children’s book author, writing under the pen name VA Rivera.

Her love of poetry began at age seven, when she wrote her first poem for a class assignment. The big red check mark and the words “VERY GOOD” from her teacher sparked a lifelong passion for writing—and she’s been hooked ever since.

Valerie earned degrees from SUNY Old Westbury and Long Island University’s C.W. Post College, and she continues to hone her craft through online workshops and classes at The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. Her poetry workshops are known for being positive, encouraging, and uplifting, reflecting her belief in the power of words to inspire and connect.

Her other superpowers include loving her neighbors and laughing out loud. In her spare time, Valerie enjoys soft piano music, strolling through farmers’ markets, and practicing yoga with her two cats, SweetiePie and Miss Tish.