About Suhail Rafidi

I am a multi-published author and professional educator. I specialize in the Great Books tradition and Creative Writing programs that engage the imagination, develop critical thinking, and build community. After a rewarding career in the classroom, I founded Journey Learning LLC to help learners ages 11 to 111 discover the joy of reading and the power of their own voice through impactful, humanities-based learning experiences.

I’ve been teaching since 2000. I’ve taught in schools, universities, homes, recovery centers, and one-on-one. I understand that every learner has a unique voice and path. 

My goal is simple: to make learning rigorous, joyful, and meaningful — so students develop skills that last a lifetime. Whether you’re a parent seeking academic support for your student, or you’re an adult hankering for the personal enrichment of studying and discussing classic books, you’re in the right place. Please drop a line. Let’s talk!

I’m a teacher and author, and I’d love to help you explore the world of stories and ideas. I’ve been teaching since 2000, and I’ve worked with students of all kinds — middle schoolers, high schoolers, college students, and even adults coming back to learning. I’ve also published three books, so writing isn’t just something I teach — it’s something I live.

What I love most is helping students discover their own voice. That might mean diving into epic adventures like The Odyssey or Beowulf, writing a short story that only you could tell, or learning how to express yourself with clarity and confidence.

Through Journey Learning, I offer tutoring, workshops, and courses in reading, writing, and big ideas. My goal is simple: to help you fall in love with books, get excited about writing, and gain the skills to share your thoughts with the world.

Learning is a journey — and I’d be excited to travel it with you.

Education and Professional Background
I graduated from Mills High School in Millbrae, California in the early 1990s. I went on to complete my B.A. and M.A. in Humanities at San Francisco State University. I began teaching in 2000 at the Institute of Reading Development. Over the following decade I worked in multiple facets of education, always as a teacher. I spent time as an assistant lecturer, where I designed and taught a Humanities course at SFSU. I worked as the in-house teacher at S.T.E.P.S, Inc. (Sobriety Through Education & Peer Support), a remarkable Berkeley based recovery facility. I helped adult learners pursue and enrich their education. All the while, I built up a tutoring and homeschool practice, including high school course work, and test prep and proctoring. 

Writing Career
During 2009, I stepped back from teaching to cultivate my writing career in earnest. Over the ensuing decade, I published three books. The first was a science fiction novel about an artificial intelligence that used to be a real man. The second was an animal fiction adventure about whales; all of the characters were whales, everything happened underwater, and to honor whale song, all the dialogue was rendered in verse. Thirdly, I edited a posthumous collection of essays showcasing the life of William Eichinger, a San Francisco culture hero. Meanwhile, I worked as a hired pen writing SEO web copy where I published hundreds of articles for various websites. I spoke twice at the International Philip K. Dick Conference, presenting on the history of AI in literature.  My writing career continues to be very rewarding; book fairs, readings, conferences, and the challenge and thrill of creation through words.

Teaching Career Expanded
In 2019, I returned to the classroom. Based on teaching instincts, guest speaking appearances, and my record as a professional writer, I was recruited to teach Creative Writing at a small independent middle school in San Mateo County. It was a writer’s dream: to get a job teaching writing at a boutique private institution. After my first year, I was promoted to the head of the Language Arts department. It was fantastic. I spent six rewarding years designing curriculum, chairing extracurricular electives, and (my passion) teaching. I taught Creative Writing and Language Arts for all three middle school grades, 6th, 7th, and 8th. I taught full time through the COVID years, and became adept in the online classroom, having honed engaging techniques to make digital teaching as efficacious as possible.

Most Learning Happens Outside The Classroom
My latest classroom years reminded me that most learning happens outside of the classroom. The educational landscape is changing. Conscientious parents are looking for teacher-mentors who are sensitive to their students’ development, unique potential, learning styles, and all-around upstanding citizenness. Inquisitive adults are hankering for the personal enrichment of studying and discussing classic books, a luxury some haven’t indulged since university days.

Journey Learning
I created Journey Learning LLC to bring together my most effective teaching practices and my lifelong love of literature and writing. Today, I work as an independent educator for ages 11 to 111, offering learning experiences that are both rigorous and deeply rewarding. I provide personalized Humanities and Creative Writing instruction through tutoring, workshops, book clubs, and courses.

What are my learning objectives?

• To cultivate a love of reading

• To inspire enthusiasm for writing

• To practice the art of listening with respectful attention

• To practice the art of speaking with confidence

• To develop critical reasoning and analytical skills

• To take delight in the complexity of the world, and to reflect on their place within it

What are my teaching methods?

• Individual and small group instruction

• Close readings and discussion of literature, nonfiction, poetry, myth, and theater.

• Creative Writing (fiction, poetry, and nonfiction)

• Project based learning

• Reader’s theater mini-plays and acting

• Collaboration (writing workshops, group projects, D & D learning adventures)

• Public speaking (reading aloud, acting, speeches)

Let’s Talk
When you invite me to teach or tutor, you gain more than academic support — you welcome a seasoned educator and published author who brings curiosity, creativity, and care to every lesson. I would be honored to help you or your students embark on their own journey of learning. If you’d like to explore how I can support your family, school, or community, please reach out. I’d love to talk with you about your goals and how Journey Learning can help bring them to life. I’m happy to give a short presentation to you or any group. Let’s talk!

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I’d love to hear from you!
-Suhail.