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A Word From Gene
“As a new author, professionally I was a 44 year educator. After 19 years of secondary teaching
English/History and coaching teens at Overbrook Regional H.S., I received my masters in Educational
Leadership from Rowan University in 1997 and was hired in Hammonton, N.J—the self-proclaimed
“Blueberry Capital of the World”, to become a high school assistant principal for two years. In
September 1999, I was promoted to principal of the Hammonton Middle School grades 6-8 for the next
14 years.
I know middle school! I retired after 35 years in public school education in southern New Jersey and
was hired part-time by Stockton University’s School of Education to teach and supervise practice
teachers for nine years. I retired May 5, 2023 due to medical conditions I became an author of 15 short
stories based on my life’s challenges as a middle schooler for my two eldest grandsons headed into their
middle school years. Many people forget how hard it is for an elementary child to transition into their
teen years. It’s HARD! It has been rewarding to relive those transition years of middle school. WARNING: Short Stories for Middle School Boys Only, Because Girls Have Cooties! is my heartfelt soliloquy
reminder about those children transitioning from their elementary years into teenagers.”
Description: A time capsule nonfiction 15 short story collection about a young man’s “Coming of Age”
in reaching adolescence in the time period of 1965-1970. The stories reflect a life lesson a chapter
reflecting the challenges of friendships, challenges, adventures and a personal evolution through a
variety of circumstances trying to “grow up”. Through humor major life decisions with consequences
reflect the struggle of adolescence in a time before the internet. Color illustrations adorn each end of chapter and an educational Chapter Lessons section is packed in the back of the book to allow the book to be used educationally within a classroom, as a summer enrichment read or as a home school educational supplement. Available in hardcover, paperback, and audio book.