Debut Memoir Reveals What a Remote Alaskan Village Taught One First-Year Teacher About Humanity

TEACHING IN THE DARK by Genét Simone

SEATTLE, WA, UNITED STATES, November 3, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- In TEACHING IN THE DARK, author Genét Simone transports readers to 1984 Shishmaref, Alaska, a remote Inuit village on the edge of the Chukchi Sea, where her first year as a teacher became a journey of cultural awakening and profound transformation. What begins as a bold leap into the unknown soon unfolds into a powerful exploration of the emotional and psychological landscape of teaching itself.

Alone in a vastly different world, Simone faced freezing temperatures, power outages and the weight of being a first-year teacher far from home. Yet what emerges from those challenges is not a story of hardship, but one of resilience, humor and grace. Her memoir captures the heart of what it means to teach — not through lesson plans or classroom triumphs, but through the relationships, humility and empathy that form between people across distance and difference.

Fascinating, poignant and often laugh-out-loud funny, TEACHING IN THE DARK reflects the universal truth that the most lasting lessons are the ones we don’t expect. Through the author’s sharp wit and honesty, readers witness the growth not just of a teacher, but of a human being learning what it truly means to connect.

The memoir’s emotional resonance has earned widespread praise. Reviewers have called it “a humorous, tender memoir” and praised its vivid, compelling portrayal of place and people. Awards committees and reviewers alike have recognized the book’s lyrical prose and the honesty of Simone’s reflections.

The Non-Fiction Book Awards honored it with Gold, while Foreword/Clarion Review celebrated it as “a humorous, tender memoir” of “personal and professional growth.” The International Book Awards recognized Simone’s “heartfelt narrative, rich character development and evocative prose,” and The Prairies Book Review called it “a witty and heartwarming exploration of resilience, cultural immersion and the profound impact of education in unconventional settings.”

But perhaps the most striking endorsement comes from CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL co-author Jack Canfield, who wrote, “It’s an amazing book, I love it! Not only is the book well-written, but how Genét teaches and who she is, is an example of what I believe is needed in education today. If you’re a teacher, you definitely should read it because it’s going to inspire you to wake up to more of who you are and can be in the classroom. Even if you’re not a teacher, you should read it. This book goes beyond teaching.”

Simone’s purpose in sharing her story reaches beyond memoir. After more than 30 years as a teacher and teacher educator, she remains devoted to understanding what draws people to the classroom — and what helps them stay there. Through this book and her ongoing work, she gives voice to the emotional realities educators face, honoring their courage while reminding them that they are not alone.

TEACHING IN THE DARK is a moving tribute to the teaching spirit, a testament to the power of community and a love letter to the human connections that can transform both teacher and student. The year was 1984, but the impact, as Simone so beautifully proves, is timeless.


TEACHING IN THE DARK is available on Amazon and other popular retail outlets where books are sold.


AUTHOR BIO

Genét Simone, Ph.D., has been a teacher and teacher educator for over 30 years. Her experiences in Shishmaref, Alaska, spearheaded a life-long inquiry into what draws people to follow their calling into the teaching profession and what keeps them there. She is passionate about tending to the often over-looked emotional and psychological impact of being an educator in challenging places, in challenging times. To further that mission, she created the B.E.S.T. Formula, a system for helping teachers be Brave, Effective, Self-Caring and Transformative, so they can stay in the profession they love. She lives in Seattle, Washington. TEACHING IN THE DARK is her first book. Learn more at www.genetsimone.com.

Genét Simone
Genét Simone, Author
genet@genetsimone.com
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