Janet Stutz

CONTACT:
Email: janetmstutzeducate@gmail.com 

BIO:
Janet Stutz grew up in the Cleveland Ohio area. She attended Elmhurst University in Illinois and received her BA in Elementary Education. She later pursued a Master’s and Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from Aurora University. Dr. Stutz served as a school educator for nearly 40 years. She began her journey as a teacher and was fortunate to begin her career at Mooseheart Elementary School, “The Child City”, as a 6th-grade teacher. Later she served as an athletic director, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent in various schools in Illinois and Iowa. She has taught both at the Master’s and Doctorate level, serving on many dissertation committees.  She recently retired and currently resides in McFarland, Wisconsin.

Janet is the younger sister of Dr. John Gilfether, the photographer of her new collection that will be released in 2024. She has been writing poetry since the age of 16. Mr. Silva, her high school English teacher, inspired her to develop her craft and to “keep writing”. She has written many pieces over the years and has put many of them to music. She has been married to her husband Kevin for 38 years and has two grown children, Brian and Jennifer, and three grandchildren.

PUBLICATIONS: Janet’s new collection, Discover Beauty Through Challenges, will be released in Fall, 2024.

Poetry

Reflect

I sit and reflect
And gaze into the sea
Remember the year
That nearly broke me

Derecho showed its ugly face
On top of COVID, race
Tough to stay afloat
Crisis upon crisis, no grace

What did I learn about me
In the depths beyond the deep blue
Rolling, crashing like sand meets sea
Strong, fierce, yet calm when I had to be

Emotions running high in waves
Stay positive, not wash away
Reflect how I gave
A few ripples did not see it that way

I learned resilience and rise above
Resisted unkindness of mental instability
Embraced those who hurt, not love
I learned to seek peace, tranquility

 Not easy the current strong against me
Dove deep and rose to breathe on top
Above the white foam of the sea
Although vast, it didn’t stop me

Point of View

Brilliant, bright emergent in the field
The flower stands tall, witness to play
Every event that scurries past revealed
Stories sealed from a point of view with no say

Imagine the tales to be told from a vivid tower
Locked for eternity unable to share
Others gazed upon the color distant each hour
Unaware of viewpoint sealed like an heir

Blossom encounters a morning stroll in between
Along a prairie path remote, recluse, reserve
Quiet conversations, loving and serene
The brilliant blossom’s viewpoint ahead on curve

As long as the flower emerges every year
Tales shall be sealed not known or revealed
Until one day, brilliance will fade with a tear
Leaving behind memories eternally sealed