Lesa is a former teaching artist with the nonprofit Writers in the Schools in Houston. In her writing residencies, she led elementary and middle school students through various creative writing projects. Then she compiled and published their work in classroom anthologies. She’s written curriculum for Writers in the Schools, mentored new writers from the University of Houston Creative Writing Program, and served on the collaborative coaching team for professional development. In 2006, she established Boot in the Door Publications and released several books under the names Lesa Boutin and Lesa Howard. She recently wrote GREATER THAN A TOURIST—WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA, published by CZYK Publishing.