About Ryan
Illustration by Yasmeen Abedifard
Welcome!
I’m a veteran K-12 educator who has served as a school librarian, English teacher, and academic advisor. In 2023, I established my own company, Pinestar Educational, through which I offer private tutoring and academic coaching, creative writing mentorship, curriculum development, educational consulting, and editing services.
I’m also an author. A few years into teaching English, I began taking my own writing seriously because I realized I needed to do what I was asking my students to do: draft regularly and share my writing with an audience. I began sharing my writing with my students so they could see I was invested in the process, too.
Eventually, I started sharing my writing with adults as well.
My first professional book for educators, The 21st Century School Library, which details how teachers and administrators can better utilize their school library and school librarian(s), was published in fall 2021 by John Catt Educational. My debut picture book, Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen, based on a memorable experience my father had as a young Iranian-American immigrant, will be published in summer 2024 by Charlesbridge. And I have several other exciting projects in the works!
In case you’re curious, here’s my educational background:
University of North Carolina at Greensboro: B.A. in Media Studies
Lesley University: M.Ed. in Middle School Education
The Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College: M.A. in English Literature
Simmons University: Post-Master’s School Library Teacher Certification (K-12)
Boston College: Graduate Certificate in Theology & Ministry
I’m represented by Jacqui Lipton at the Tobias Literary Agency.
Published Writing
Books:
Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen (Charlesbridge)
The 21st Century School Library (John Catt Educational)
Book Contributions
Creative SEL: Using Hands-On Projects to Boost Social-Emotional Learning by Michele Haiken and Mark Gura
Articles about Education
“10 Remarkable Picture Books From 2023” (Edutopia)
“How to Support Twice-Exceptional Students” (Edutopia)
“10 Remarkable Recent Picture Books” (Edutopia)
“7 Simple Ways to Get Outside More Often” (Edutopia)
“Making Research More Exciting Through Fiction Writing” (Edutopia)
“8 Truths About Teaching Writing to Middle Schoolers” (Edutopia)
“Effective Student-Led Discussions” (Edutopia)
“Children Writing for Children” (Independent Teacher)
“Teaching Junot Díaz in Middle School” (Education Week)
“How to Dress Macbeth: A Literary Adventure with Project-Based Learning” (Education World)
Short Fiction
“A Communion” (Spry Literary Journal)
“A Plowman’s Confession” (Spartan)
“Underneath the Costume” (*82 Review)
Poetry
“For Noah, In His First Year” (Carolina Quarterly)
Chapbook
Mutual Incomprehension (Anchor & Plume Press)
Interviews
Interview and Cover Reveal for Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen (Mr. Schu’s blog, “Watch. Connect. Read.”)
“Leveraging the Modern School Library as a Hub of Innovation” (EdCircuit)
“Behind the Words: Ryan Tahmaseb” (Spry Literary Journal)
Get in touch.
I would love to hear from you!