Patrick is teaching even on his off days.

Patrick Harris II (he/him) is an interdisciplinary writer and storyteller on a mission to help the world care more about kids at the margins and the humans in their lives who support them.

“Rarely will you discover a raw, gorgeously narrated love letter about a passion. This audiobook offers just that–and more.”

-Audiofile Magazine (2023)

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“Patrick was so raw and unique and REAL. It was inspiring to hear someone talk about how we’re humans first. Sometimes, I think teachers forget that.”

– Teacher, Round Rock ISD

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about patrick

  • Read Patrick’s full bio.
  • Glance at Patrick’s resume
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writing portfolio

  • Read a list of Patrick’s published works–past and present
  • Read articles and listen to podcasts that feature Patrick’s work
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  • Pushing back against teacher turnover: here’s the letter i wrote my students about my departure

    One of the biggest mistake teachers and educational systems make is not taking the effects of teaching turnover seriously. If relationship building is the core of what our work is about, then we ought to consider the impact of leaving on the relationships with our students. From someone who has taught in six school in…

  • Oh, grief.

    I only knew youTo beA line from someone else’s story A page from a bookI had only heardBut never got around to reading. Folks told meyou could feel thethe heaviness of the darkness and the warmth of lightEverything and nothingAt the same time. When I heard you were in townI knew how it would end.I’d…

  • Behind The Scenes: I Finally Found a School to Call Home. Now People are Leaving.

    Please click here to read my latest piece titled, “Many Eyes Are on the Teachers Who Leave. What About the Ones Who Stay?” on EdSurge. This is my first of four narratives pieces that will appear in Ed Surge. This year, I am a Voices of Change fellow with the publication company. Big shout out…

  • For New Teachers – It’s Not Easy to Work Within Contract Hours

    Over the weekend, I was sent a podcast clip of a group of educators discussing tips they had for new teachers. I appreciated the nuanced approach to the tired argument that new teachers need to learn to work in their “contracted hours”. This is all too familiar. When I entered the classroom in 2015, veteran…

  • For the English Teachers Who Struggle with Writing

    My name is Patrick and I’m an English Language Arts teacher that is insecure about his writing. Am I out here by myself? I fell in love with writing in the fourth grade. Hyped up from my trip to Blockbuster, gathering all the movies I could hold in my small hands. I knew I was…