Karen Meyers Stangl received her B.A. in Education from the State University of New York at Oneonta. As a classroom teacher for the last 22 years, she has taught grades 1 through 6. She has been active on many committees, involved in writing and editing a variety of curriculum materials, and has taught staff-development seminars. She has participated in activities for the gifted and has been lead teacher for a program designed for at-risk students. She is currently working as a first-grade teacher at the Anne E. Moncure Elementary School in Stafford, Virginia.