Valarie Pearce 

Valarie Pearce, M.Ed., is an author, educator, and curriculum specialist whose work centers storytelling, student voice, belonging, and the transformative power of literacy. A Portland native and longtime Writers in the Schools (WITS) writer with Literary Arts, she brings the combined perspective of a working author and experienced educator committed to helping young people discover the power of their own stories. Pearce is the author of Miricle Not Miracle, her debut young adult novel, selected from more than 65 submissions for Multnomah County Library’s e-book collection as part of its 2026 Library Writers Project. Libraries are also integral to the novel itself, serving as an important setting for Miricle’s journey toward discovery, connection, and possibility. An adjunct professor of writing at Lewis & Clark College, Pearce has taught high school Women’s Studies and Social Sciences and contributed to SMART's Oregon Reads Aloud Anniversary Anthology. Her commitment to libraries extends beyond the page. She served as a community panelist for the inaugural glass art and artist selection for North Portland Library’s Black Cultural Center, a collaboration among Multnomah County Library, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, and community members to center community voice and celebrate Black artistry in library spaces.