Jeffrey Lowman/Arizona Republic

Sue Raatjes shares her story at Gertrude's at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.

KJZZ partners with the Arizona Republic to bring you the Arizona Storytellers series. We record the live events and share them with you on the radio. In Phoenix, the storytellers sometimes share stories about our community or the life events that have shaped them in general. Megan Finnerty is the creator of the series.

For 20 years, Sue Raatjes was a high school English teacher in the Peoria Unified School District. One year, Raatjes was given a group of unmotivated students. But it turned out it was her favorite class to teach.

Sue Raatjes is a retired high school teacher and author living in Phoenix.

The next storytelling event is Aug. 31, 2015, at South Mountain Community College.

→ Hear More Arizona Storytellers