My name is Lea Bogner and I am the Texas Book Festival’s new Outreach Coordinator!
I am originally from New York and attended Tulane University. When I graduated in 2012, I joined Teach for America and taught 6th grade reading at a KIPP middle school. I loved getting kids excited about reading, often dressing up as “Judge Bogner” to teach classes on finding evidence in the text to support inferences and characterizations. My favorite book for middle school students was and still is Wonder by R.J. Palacio. My other must-reads for kids include, Stargirl by Jerri Spinelli and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
After my experience teaching, I realized that I wanted to do more for kids and affect more structural change. I moved to Austin to pursue my Master’s of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. While taking a full course load, I worked as an intern for Community Affairs at Applied Materials. I helped employees engage with the Austin community through volunteer and fundraising efforts, in the process falling in love with Austin.
My boyfriend and I have two dogs, Lloyd Christmas and Darth Daisy—or for everyday use, Lloyd and Daisy. (Dumb and Dumber fans and those who have read Wonder will hopefully see the references!) We love to take them kayaking, or bar hopping around town.
I love 20th-century fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, and crime thrillers. I look forward to connecting with the Texas Book Festival community and am excited to help further Texas children’s love of reading.