Bio. Note

Molly Rice has held several residencies teaching poetry, film, storytelling, theatre, and ESL in hundreds of schools, colleges, and organizations in NC, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Russia, and Hungary. While living in Ireland, she wrote and directed over thirty original plays and became a Pushkin Trust Artist for the Duchess of Abercorn. She wrote a teacher’s manual entitled Exploring the Lough – Creative Activities for the Primary School Classroom and was included in Around the Lough, Lough Views, Shore Lines, and Sea & Shore children’s books. She has been published in various webzines and magazines including Poetry Super Highway, Fortnight Magazine, The Stinging Fly, The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, the 2012 spring issue of Iodine Poetry Journal, and Bloodshot: Journal of Contemporary Culture. She was a contributor to a major anthology of poetry and art entitled, A Conversation Piece edited by Adrian Rice & Angela Reid (Ulster Museum, Northern Ireland). She has been published in several anthologies including Voices and Vision: A Collection of Writings By and About Empowered Women published by the Women’s Resource Center of Hickory, The Best of Poetry Hickory edited by Scott Owens, and The Best of Final Friday Reading Series edited by Scott Douglas. Molly is currently a theatre teacher/director of the Tractor Shed Theatre and editor of the literary magazine “Indian Ink” at St. Stephens High School (SSHS). As an educator/director Molly has received many honors: The JoAnn Spees Youth Advocacy Award, Finalist for the Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award, Students Against Violence Everywhere Creativity Award for Start With Hello, North Carolina Theatre Educators' Teacher of the Year, Hamilton & Herring Teacher of the Year, Hancock-Settlemyer Award, Nobel Claes Educator of Distinction, Hometown Hero, Notable Neighbor, ​Champions for Kids grant winner, The College Board Civic Engagement Honorable Mention Award​, Media League Online Creativity Team Championship National Winners, Regional NCTC Excellence in Overall Production Design 2011, Regional NCTC Excellence in Ensemble Acting 2011, SSHS Teacher of the Year 2010, SSHS’ Wachovia Teacher of the Year, NCTC Excellence in Direction 2008 & 2009, State NCTC "Best Sound/Music Design 2008", State NCTC "Best Choreography 2009", $30,000 in technology for her classroom for the winning music video in the eInstruction’s Classroom Makeover contest. She is the district coordinator for the National Poetry Out Loud Recitation Contest. Molly currently resides in Hickory, North Carolina with her husband Irish poet, Adrian Rice, and their son Micah Wayne Freeman Rice.