About Joanne

THE Author

Joanne’s Story

Raised in Middletown, New Jersey, Joanne Cherefko has spent her adult life in public education, from teacher to administrator to school board member, instilling a love and understanding of poetry in students. She began writing poetry as a young girl, finding her voice in college, and creating her most complex, angst-ridden poetry after experiencing a grave personal loss. Her most recent poems shed a softer light on the demons of her past and reflect a clear departure from her earlier expressionist style.

From 2007 until 2021, Joanne created and presented poetry seminars at Mountain Vista Governor’s School (MVGS) and local high schools in Warren County, Virginia. She enjoyed researching challenging poets such as Wallace Stevens and Elizabeth Bishop in order to formulate thought-provoking questions that led students to a critical analysis of poems they would never have read, understood, or appreciated on their own. Joanne’s hobbies are collecting and listening to music ranging from classic rock to contemporary alternative; photography; traveling; camping; hiking; reading contemporary poetry; writing poetry; cuddling with her dog; and growing old with the love of her life, her devoted husband Bud.