A local teacher-turned-author is making good on a promise to his former students in southern California.
Chuck Ross and his wife Jenn relocated to Scotts Valley from Oxnard, Calif., last summer. Before leaving, Ross promised his then seventh graders that he would be back to see them promote in June 2025. They never dreamed his mode of transportation would be a bicycle—or that he would pull a trailer loaded with books.
“I often look at distances and think, ‘I should just ride my bike there.’ But this time I wanted to do something that benefits my school from last year (Lopez Academy) as well as SLV (San Lorenzo Valley) Middle School,” Ross said.
Ross, when he isn’t teaching or riding his bike, is writing books under his penname R.C. Gilbert. His preferred genre is young-adult sci-fi that is clean enough for his students to read.
As the current eighth-grade science teacher, he also likes to use actual science concepts throughout. That said, Ross acknowledges that the use of AI is causing some youth to lose the ability to write for themselves.
“Literacy is more important now than ever. I know the joy writing has brought me and I would like to encourage that in my students. Like Plato said, ‘Writing is the geometry of the soul,’” he said.
Ross plans to ride approximately 400 miles down the coast of California, towing a bike trailer full of the Fractals Trilogy books. During the ride, Ross plans to donate 100% of the profits from his book sales, both in person and online, to schools. The money will benefit literacy programs at both Dr. Manuel M. Lopez Academy in Oxnard and San Lorenzo Valley Middle School in Felton.
Ross will begin his ride on Thursday, June 12, in the parking lot of SLV Middle School. He plans to arrive at Lopez Academy on Wednesday, June 18, just in time for their graduation the next day.
“I’m so excited to see my SLV students promote followed by my Lopez students. Both groups of students have worked hard and deserve to move onto their next chapter,” he said.
Those interested in supporting Ross with his endeavor can email him at ro****@*******rt.com or check out his website at rcgilbert.com. Any other schools or districts interested in joining this as a possible fundraiser can also reach out.
