An Inspiring Educational Initiative

The Author Speaker Series, generously funded by the Lake Forest High School Foundation welcomes its third speaker, children’s book author Candace Fleming on February 28, 2025. This initiative brings esteemed authors to our school, offering students the opportunity to be inspired and educated directly by literary professionals. As of this month, 14 sections of English classes have been able to join in for writing workshop and author speaking events. 

According to one participating teacher, "Meeting an author helps students connect what they learn in the classroom to the real world. They see that writing is a viable career and that their own stories matter."

Student Author Connection

Ideally, students enhance their literary appreciation and critical thinking skills; additionally, they are encouraged to explore their own creative potential. Authors provide firsthand knowledge about the writing process and introduce students to careers in writing, as well as related fields. This series provides a unique platform for students to engage with authors, explore the world of writing, and gain valuable insights into the creative process. Head of Library Services, Ann Carlson explains “The goal is to celebrate reading and to provide our school community opportunities to connect through books,”

Featured Authors

This series features a diverse lineup of authors, spanning various genres and backgrounds. Guest authors conduct engaging presentations, workshops, and Q&A sessions, allowing students to interact with professional writers, and gain deeper insights into their work and experiences. In addition to welcoming Candace Fleming later this month, our past speakers have included Chicago authors Toya Wolfe, author of Last Summer on State Street, and Jimmy Juliano, high school educator and author of the viral Dead Eleven. 

September 2024

October 2024

Impact on Students

The Author Speaker Series has a profound impact on the student body. It not only enriches their understanding of literature but also motivates them to pursue their own writing endeavors. Students have expressed that meeting real-life authors demystifies the writing process and makes it more accessible. As one student describes, "Listening to Mr. Juliano made me want to read his books. It was cool to hear how he came up with the story and characters."

"Learning from Toya Wolfe was very interesting! She spoke about to not worry about the small details at first, giving us great advice. One of the most helpful moments was when she told us about her writing journey. She was very helpful. Her advice on just writing your ideals down helped me a lot."

Last March we awarded The Author Series Grant on Grant Day. It has already had a positive impact and there is more to come next week. That is your donations at work! Our current donor list is as of November 4. We will update it again at the end of March. Click on the list to access the list.

We hope you'll join us at Knollwood Club on Friday, May 2nd for this year's Annual Spring Luncheon. This year we are featuring author of The Naked Roommate and Win or Learn (among others) and advice guru, Harlan Cohen. He will also be engaging with students at LFHS as part of a 2024 Grant. Funds raised will go toward future grants at LFHS.