About the Author
Lucia Marick
Lucia Marick holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Massachusetts and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. With a remarkable career spanning over 35 years, she has dedicated her life to advancing literacy and educational excellence.
Throughout her journey, Lucia served as a classroom teacher, mentor teacher, reading coordinator, and administrator. She ultimately became the Director of Elementary Reading at the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she played a pivotal role in shaping effective literacy programs and supporting student success.
Education
BS in Education from the University of Massachusetts Master’s in Educational Administration from Florida Atlantic University
Career
35 years in education — teacher, mentor, administrator, and LAUSD reading program director, committed to strengthening literacy and empowering educators.
Inspiration
Inspired by her uncle’s and his friends’ first-hand experiences during World War II, Lucia brings emotional authenticity and historical depth to her storytelling.
Her Debut Novel
The Sparrow’s Song is Lucia Marick’s debut novel, blending autobiographical elements with stories inspired by her uncle and his companions during World War II. Through extensive research and personal family connections, Lucia vividly portrays themes of courage, sacrifice, resilience, and hope. Her background as a professional literacy education expert enriches the narrative with clarity and emotional depth, making the novel both engaging and meaningful. Lucia’s lifelong dedication to education and storytelling allows readers to experience history through a compassionate and human lens.
FAQ
How does Lucia Marick’s experience as a Reading Instruction improvement consultant influence her writing?
Ans: Lucia has always maintained that writing should be an integral part of literacy instruction in the classroom and advocated in all her work that the time spent on writing instruction be extended as much as possible. She found that teachers who gave students time too revise their work repeatedly or who took the time to have “mini” conferences with their students about how to improve their writing enabled wonderful writing performance. Lucia revised her novel 5 times because of this observation. Each time, approaching the narrative with fresh eyes after constructive criticism, Lucia felt her revision proved to be better than the last version. Here’s hoping readers like this one.
What role did Lucia Marick play as an Elementary Literacy coach expert?
Ans: As a mentor teacher, Lucia assisted new teachers in the classroom as they improved their literacy teaching skills. As an Assistant Principal of a year-round elementary school of 3,000 students, she visited classrooms to observe reading and writing instruction lessons and worked with reading coaches to assist teachers in improving their instructional methods and successful outcomes. As Los Angeles Unified District’s Elementary Director of Reading, Lucia worked with all the local district coordinators, literacy coaches, and experts to improve reading and writing instruction throughout the huge number of schools populated with students who spoke a myriad of languages other than English.
How did her work as a Federal Reading Grant specialist contribute to her career?
Ans: Lucia was honored to work with the Reading First Grant and all the fine specialists at RMC. She was able to travel from Oregon to Maine, from the Southwest to Virginia and back to headquarters in New Hampshire, providing seminars and workshops for principals and teachers who were seriously interested in improving reading and writing instruction in their schools.