12 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine ACADEMIA, EDUCATION AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES WESLEY MOORE III AUTHOR, TEACHER (RETIRED) Porter-Gaud School Folly Beach, SC Wesley Moore III is an author and educator who taught English at the high school and college levels for decades before retiring in 2019. Language was his first passion, and by fourth grade, he had already developed a love of writing that would shape his career. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1975 and initially planned to pursue graduate study, never imagining himself as a teacher. That changed after studying with Milton scholar Jack Ashley, whose command of the material – and ability to recite lengthy passages from memory – prompted Mr. Moore to reconsider both the classroom and his own ambitions. At age 25, Mr. Moore accepted his first teaching position at a local community college. What began as a practical decision quickly became a vocation. He was drawn to the mix of subject mastery, creativity and human connection required to reach his students, many of whom were older veterans. He came to believe that effective teaching required a degree of performance – an ability to engage students and invite personal response – an approach that would remain central to his teaching throughout his career. After the birth of his first child, Mr. Moore stepped away from full-time writing and joined the faculty at the Porter-Gaud School. Mr. Moore began teaching English at PorterGaud in 1985, a move he considers one of the most fortunate turns of his life, despite having disliked his own high school experience. Teaching writing became his highest priority, and he devoted countless hours to reading and responding to student work. Several of his former students went on to become successful writers, including New York Times bestselling novelists Katie Crouch and Grady Hendrix. Before retiring, Mr. Moore served as chair of the English department, helping guide the curriculum and working with colleagues across disciplines to reinforce shared skills and knowledge. He remained committed to making instruction personal and relevant, a dedication recognized by the Porter-Gaud School’s John E. Gibbs Faculty Award and a 2003 Stanford teacher tribute.
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