WHO’S OUT THERE?
Creative colleagues
BOOKS
Teachers have their own extracurricu- lar activities. Some volunteer. Some write books. Others produce podcasts, create art or make music. Here are some endeavours undertaken by your colleagues “out there.”
Haunted by Words Left Unspoken Anna Marie Buonomo recently published a self-help book, Haunted by Words Left Unspoken: How Speaking Your Truth Can Set Your Past Free . Her book explores the complex weight of regret and invites readers to confront their truths, release emotional
MUSIC
burdens, and move toward healing and self-compassion. It is deeply personal work that encourages growth through vulnerability and reflection. After launching the book, Buonomo held five Indigo book signings to share her story. ANNA MARIE BUONOMO St. Elizabeth Seton School, Calgary @annamariebuonomo annamariebuonomo.com FriesenPress The Sad Book
Matthew and The Keys In addition to being a teacher, Matthew Akplu is a pop/rock singer-songwriter who created the Matthew and The Keys project. As part of this project, Akplu recently released a six-song EP. The album’s lead single “Take It” reached number three on the Queer Canadian Music Chart. Akplu had previously released a full-length album called Victory in 2021.
MATTHEW AKPLU Shauna May Seneca School, Edmonton mathekeys.com @mathekeys youtube.com/mathekeys Sport and Recreation Marathon Runner
Carla Shafer is a junior high teacher, author and mother of two boys—one here and one in heaven. Her journey through grief inspired her to write The Sad Book and later The Mad Book , stor- ies that help children understand and work through sadness and
When he’s not teaching, junior high teacher Daylan Wizniuk is often found running. Wizniuk has been a marathon and ultra runner for 10 years, taking on everything from flat road races to up and over moun- tains for more than 100 kilometres. When it comes to his running, he enjoys being consistent—he has run at least a mile every day since November 2016—and continuing to get faster and stronger at a variety of race formats. DAYLAN WIZNIUK École Charlie Killam School, Camrose @wizniukruns
anger. These books encourage emotional awareness and resilience, offering tools to process big feelings rather than push them away. The stories remind readers that it’s okay not to be okay, and that even the hardest emotions have something valuable to teach us. CARLA SHAFER Substitute teacher, Calgary School Division WestBow Press St. Rose of Lima Junior High School, Calgary matteoshaferlegacy.com
⊲ What’s new with you? Your colleagues want to know! If you’d like to make a submission for publication in Who’s Out There?, email a summary (50–75 words) to associate editor Lindsay Yakimyshyn at lindsay.yakimyshyn@ata.ab.ca.
ATA Magazine Winter 2026
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