ink sprouts workshops are led by Suzanne Lunden Metzger, a poet, teacher, and mother who has worked for over ten years in arts and literacy education. Her first real poem, at around age 7, was called "Compass" and questioned how a compass can possibly always point north (mind you, she grew up in a city near Salem, MA, and had never actually seen a real compass). She mostly lost her poetic spirit until college, when she had the opportunity to study abroad in Canterbury, England and take a class called "Reading and Writing Poetry." Here, under the guidance of a wonderful teacher with an almost unintelligible Scottish accent, she discovered the wonders of contemporary poetry as both art and craft.

She continued reading and writing poetry back at the University of Vermont, and her life was changed for the better. After graduation and a few more years moving around Vermont, earning her teaching certification and teaching high school English, directing theater and leading an after-school program (and writing poetry through it all), she decided to move to New York to study poetry at Hunter College. After teaching older students at Hunter and Hostos Community College, and very young ones at Columbia Grammar, Suzanne most recently served as director of youth programming at Poets House, a national poetry library and literary center in downtown Manhattan. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and tiny son Oslo and two black cats.

"I spoke with four of the workshop participants, all of whom seemed enthralled by Suzanne and all of the facilitators. All four were pleased both with the writing they had done and with what they felt they now understood about creating poetry. Further, it was clear that they felt as though they belonged and that what they had to contribute was both valued and valuable. This is essential to achieving all of the goals of this program. It says much about Suzanne’s approach that she accomplished this." -- Joe Bellacero, Literacy Consultant & Master Teacher, NYC

"What I didn't know yet is that she is one of those people who have found their calling. If Suzanne has just walked in your door, close it behind her and ask her to sit down. You are about to meet a gifted teacher."  -- Sarah Squier, Teacher, Montpelier, VT