Michael Dennis Cassity holds the B.A. in English from California State University, Long Beach, and the M.A. in English from Colorado State University. He is the recipient of the 1988 California Educator Award in recognition of his innovative approaches in teaching literature to elementary and high school students and providing mentoring leadership in language arts workshops throughout California. In 2001 he was awarded the Gerald C. Hayward Award for Excellence in community college instruction and for his contributions to teaching and developing special education and gifted programs at the com...