The 2026 Spring Bulletin featured a Faculty Q&A highlighting Ryan Horton. Read it below.

What inspired you to become an English/Language Arts teacher, and in Middle School specifically?
I have loved writing since early on in elementary school. Creative writing is a longtime passion of mine, and it is rewarding to support students develop their own self-expression skills.I also recognize the wonderful power literature possesses; it can provide a much-appreciated escape, an exploration of humanity, or an education in something we are eager to learn. 

What is your favorite book/story/unit to teach and why?
It largely depends on student engagement. Some years students respond with joy to the wacky world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and in other years it is a historical fictional tale like Night on Fire or Number the Stars that inspires them to learn more about history and to pull back the layers of a character.

Language Arts Teachers, especially in MS, can have a profound impact and spark a lifelong love of reading in students. How do you do that? 
Inspiring a love of reading looks different for every student. I focus on helping students uncover the depth and relevance of the texts we study, while also prioritizing independent reading. A key part of my approach is connecting students with books that match their interests. I make personalized recommendations, encourage peer suggestions, and create a classroom culture where it’s okay not to like every book, as long as we keep exploring.

What book should every Middle Schooler and adult read?
I remember being impressed by how good a young adult novel could be when I first read Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me? 

You’re traveling to another planet and can only take THREE books. List them and tell us why you chose them!
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – because he does a fantastic job dealing with heavy topics in absurd, hyperbolic ways. The Farside by Gary Larson – because laughter is critical. An empty journal – so I can write!