Nancy Bourne, English 99A Instructor
I am a retired lawyer with an educational background in English and American literature. Prior to law school, I taught English both in college and in high school. Once retired from the law, I received a Masters degree in English literature at San Francisco State. (I already had a Masters in American History and Literature from George Washington University and an undergraduate degree in English from Duke. I like school.)

I learned about the PUP program from a 2004 article in the SF Chronicle and immediately contacted Jody to see if I could participate. So began one of the most rewarding and energizing experiences of my life. I have served as a TA or instructor in English 99a, 101, 102, and critical thinking classes on and off for four years. I love teaching in the PUP program because the men are enthusiastic, appreciative, intelligent and full of surprises. You never know exactly what to expect when you come to San Quentin, and it's always, always interesting.

One of my favorite moments: Several years ago a student in 101 sat in the back, rarely participated, appeared disgruntled and claimed to hate to read. To my delight and surprise, his essays were beautifully organized, elegantly written and deeply analytical. He continued to display his curmudgeonly persona in class, which I ignored. I was communicating through his essays and my comments with a completely different man, sensitive, intelligent, but always secretive.

A second favorite moment of mine: A student in 101 was often ill and depressed. When he missed class several weeks in a row, I wrote a note urging him to rejoin us, and he came back. At the end of the semester I had the men write creative pieces. This student brought in a poem, which he said was the first he had ever written. After much encouragement, he read it aloud to the class. It was about his painful relationship with his father and a truly beautiful poem. The men gave him a standing ovation. I see him around the yard and he's working hard on his degree.