“Do not let your image be designed by your inactivity.”

Sheena Graham, a poet, songwriter, inspirational speaker, author, and recently retired educator, was raised in Ansonia, Connecticut. Her parents Annie and Freddie were originally from Lake City, South Carolina. Annie made it to college while Freddie had to quit school after fourth grade in order to work. They were two of the most intelligent, funny, inspiring, determined, and disciplined people she has ever known. As one of six children Sheena was educated in the Public School System of Ansonia.

Throughout her career in education Sheena discovered her creative purpose. She said, “It was the ink flowing from the pen that rescued me again and again.” Her original pieces have been performed at the Westport Playhouse in CT, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the White House twice. For more than four decades Sheena has shared her musicals, poetry, stories and songs with her students, colleagues, community, and church family. With the recent publication of her first book, Hesitations, she is beginning to share them with the world.

Her honors include being featured in the book “Notable Valley African Americans,” receiving the Beard Excellence in Teaching Award, the Phi Delta Kappa Educator’s Golden Apple Award, and Teacher of the Year Awards from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women, the NAACP, and Bridgeport, CT.  Being chosen as the 2019 CT Teacher of the Year along with receiving the ‘key to the city’ from both Bridgeport and Ansonia, were a few more high points of her educational career.

Sheena serves on the Teachers of CT Advisory Board, the WPKN African American Community Board, the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council, and the Greater Bridgeport Retired Teachers Fund Board. She also volunteers at the AGAPE food pantry in Stratford, CT. Her favorite quote, “Do not let your image be designed by your inactivity.”