Fourth-grade teacher Melodie A. Cuate draws from travel and classroom experience for each new episode in the award-winning Mr. Barrington’s Mysterious Trunk series for young readers. In addition to writing, she conducts teacher workshops with curriculum developed specifically for the series. The recipient of the 2006-07 Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award, Cuate lives with her husband, Tony, and daughter, Erica, in McAllen, Texas.