Meet the Creative and Curator
Patrick Harris II
Patrick Harris II (he/him) is an award-winning educator, compelling writer, and horror archivist. A Detroit Native, Patrick unapologetically identifies as Black and queer.
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Patrick has always been intrigued by what lurks in the shadows. His dark curiosity was passed down from his aunts' love of horror films. Trips to Blockbuster (remember that?) on the east side of the city, in the 90s, left him standing in front of the horror movie section taking in all of the ways you could scare someone.
As he grew older, he would become interested in the connection between darkness and light. The women in his life would tell stories of psychics, real ghosts, and reference ancestors that they all encountered and believed in. These real stories would relay information about family history and Black culture that left him wanting to know more.
Patrick, The Educator
Patrick has over a decade of experience as an educator. His teaching experiences spans across across multiple grade levels, disciplines, and geographical locations.
He has been recognized for his innovation and leadership in education spaces from national organizations. The National Council of Teachers of English awarded him with the Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Award (2016) and International Literacy Association awarded him as a 30 Under 30 Honoree.
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Patrick is currently at 6th grade English teacher and Dean of Students.
Patrick, the Storyteller
Patrick's colorful storytelling on education have received national placement. His debut book "The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers" is critically acclaimed and award-winning. He was named a Voices of Change writing fellow with EdSurge national publication. Patrick's writings and recognization can also be found on Education Week, ABC, CNN, GQ, Huffington Post, and more. He was the producer and host of the Common Sense Podcast (over 100k downloads), sharing the real stories of educators and allies navigating the education system. Patrick's writings can be found here.
