Janine Certo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University. Her research interests focus on contemporary poetry, creative writing pedagogy, poetic inquiry, and the role of poetics in supporting K-12 educators. She emphasizes the importance of encouraging children's and adolescents' poetry writing in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms. Certo is a published author with full-length poetry collections, including 'Elixir', which won the 2020 New American Poetry Prize and the 2020 Lauria/Frasca Poetry Prize. Her work reflects a deep commitment to integrating creative expression into educational practices, fostering an appreciation for poetry among students and educators alike.