Founded in 1934 in New York City, the Academy of American Poets is the nation's leading champion of American poets and poetry, with members in all fifty states. Its mission is to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry.

Madeleine Fuchs Holzer was the Inaugural Educator in Residence at the Academy of American Poets, where she curated and created Teach this Poem. She has taught at high school and university levels, and been an arts-in-education administrator. Her poetry and essays have appeared in several literary journals.