35 Years Exp. | Professor, Author | AP/IB English

Richard R.

Great teachers bring ideas to life. They are your guides to pull the best out of you. As an English professor and a teacher of Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) for more than 30 years, I’ve always taught students—no matter what the grade level—the same thing: how to gather information, retain it, and then shape it into their own engaging voice.

I have a 100% lifetime pass rate for my students in AP and IB, so something must have worked. You will see I’m very adept at making any lesson fun, thought-provoking, and highly productive. I focus on bringing out the very best in my students both academically and personally.

I can also teach you how to use AI as an excellent research assistant. AI, like any tool, is only as good as the person asking the questions and following the leads.

You will find that my lessons are deeply connected to the real world and—most importantly—centered around you. I’ve lived in 17 different cities and countries, which allows me to bring a global perspective to our interactions. (Addendum: I speak Spanish reasonably well.)

Presently, I’m working on a novel and streaming series about my father, Dr. Richard K. Root, and how he and Tony Fauci shaped the “Golden Age of Medicine.” Though this keeps me very busy, I’ve come to realize that teaching and mentoring were among the most profoundly impactful acts of my life.

My education: Master of Arts in English from California State University, Los Angeles (1994); Single Subject Teaching Credential in English from Brandeis University (1982); Bachelor of Arts in Literary and Visual Composition from Connecticut College (1982); and a Junior Year Abroad in Dramatic Writing at New York University (1980).

Beyond education and degrees, it has been my intensely curious and driven mind, coupled with vast and diverse experience, that has been my best teacher. I hope to instill that same drive, joy, and wonder in you.