Teacher. Author. Storyteller. Meet TOPS Educator Ethan Lee 

Ethan Lee has worked in education since 2016, beginning his career as a classroom aide while completing his degree and alternative certification. Over the years, he has taught in a variety of special education settings and moved into full-time teaching by 2019. Today, Ethan teaches 6^th-8^th grade English Language Arts (ELA) and 6^th–7^th grade Social Studies at Texas Online Preparatory School (TOPS), an environment that quickly became the perfect fit. Virtual learning allows him to teach without the overstimulation of a crowded classroom and provides a calm, focused space where both he and his students thrive. 

Outside of teaching, Ethan has another passion that began long before his career in education. Since the age of nine, he has been writing stories, filling notebooks and digital drafts with characters and fantasy worlds. Writing has always been his creative outlet, a place to unwind, imagine, and explore. For years, he wrote only for himself. That changed last year when he decided to finish and publish his first full-length novel. 

With the help of an accountability partner, Ethan committed to completing one project from start to finish. That story became Runes of Wrath and Ruin, which he published on June 4, 2025. The book follows Kai, a young man whose world is destroyed by a dragon, forcing him to grapple with trauma, a dangerous magical curse, and illegal time-shifting abilities. Ethan describes his storytelling as PG-13, dark enough to feel real but still accessible for teen readers who love emotional, high-stakes fantasy. 

Parents should note that the book contains fantasy violence and is recommended for ages 13 and up with parental discretion advised. 

You can find Ethan’s book on Amazon here: 
Runes of Wrath and Ruin – E.C. Lee 

Ethan is currently finishing book two in the series and says the next installment is even stronger. He also credits online teaching with fueling his creativity. The flexibility of virtual instruction gives him the clarity and time to write while also allowing him to share his love of storytelling with students. Whether he is teaching a lesson or drafting a new chapter, Ethan brings passion, imagination, and heart into everything he does. 

He is grateful to be part of Texas Online Preparatory School and looks forward to continuing to inspire students both in the classroom and through the stories he creates.