Dr. Joyce Hurt, a Governor’s School of Southside Virginia (GSSV) teacher in Keysville, recently published her inaugural book, titled “What I Wish I had Known in 1989: Practical Advice for the Beginning Teacher.”

According to a press release from Xlibris Publishing, the book is a culmination of Hurt’s experiences over the years as a teacher and the lessons that have shaped her career.

Additionally, the book is described as a common-sense approach to the profession, drawing from real-life experiences and situations.

Hurt said she chose Xlibris to publish her book based on the firm’s good track record.

“I researched 10 publishing companies and I went with Xlibris because of its history and (Better Business Bureau) … customer ratings. They were excellent. They had a team that handled every step of the process; they were professional and they were fast. I had a really good experience.”

Originally from Blackstone, Hurt graduated from Longwood University with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1989 and master’s degree in English in 1992. In addition, she has a Ph.D. in education from Virginia Commonwealth University, which she obtained in 2006.

“I am also endorsed in administration and supervision and in gifted education,” said Hurt. “I taught for eight years at Prince Edward County High school, and I have taught for the last 21 at the Governor’s School of Southside Virginia. I have taught adjunct for (Southside Virginia Community College) for 21 years off and on, and I have taught for a few semesters at a local men’s prison.”

Hurt said she wrote the book because she wanted to provide new teachers with an easy-to-read resource relating to what works in the classroom.

“Education classes, with the exception of school law and public school finance, never helped me much in dealing with real kids and the issues a new teacher faces in the classroom,” Hurt said.

She said her book was not difficult to construct because she wanted to make it reader friendly and to the point. “I outlined the points I wanted to make last summer; I drafted it in the fall, and then I tweaked it over Christmas,” she said.

While she has published articles in the past, Hurt said she had never attempted to write a book before now.