“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 to work. They were two of the most intelligent, funny, inspiring, determined, and disciplined people she knew. As one of six children Sheena was educated in the Public School System of Ansonia. She is the proud parent of two creative spirits, Dominique and Kyle.

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 shared her musicals, poetry, stories and songs with her students, colleagues, community, and church family. With the publication of her first book, Hesitations, she has begun to share them with the world. Her most recent writing achievements include being chosen as a finalist in the WNDB (We Need Diverse Books,) Children’s Author category 2024 and being a contributing Author to 10th Grade Ready, the 2024-25 edition. She is an active member of SCWBI, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

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 currently serves as Vice President of the Connecticut Teacher of Year Council, Recording Secretary for the Greater Bridgeport Retired Teachers Association, and Recording Secretary for the Greater Bridgeport Retired Teachers FUND. She directs a children’s choir (ages 4-12,) and a Senior Choir at the First Baptist Church of Stratford, where she is a disciple. In her spare time, she volunteers at the AGAPE food pantry in Stratford, CT, makes dresses for “Dress A Girl Around the World,” one of her favorite charities, and enjoys spending time with her grand pups, Hoyt and Roseau.  Her most notable quote is, “Do not let your image be designed by your inactivity.”