Ryan Bartlett

Ryan Bartlett—Crafton is home.

Faculty Profile

The family Ryan Bartlett has built at Crafton Hills College is what has the longtime English professor coming back for more. The smaller class sizes and welcoming environment on campus allows faculty, staff and students to establish meaningful relationships, he explains.

“I feel like I’m part of this big, extended family and that’s what makes me feel good,” said Bartlett, 37.

“I get to know the students better and feel we have great programs, and the students don’t feel like they’re a face in the crowd. They feel like they’re part of this community, too.”

Bartlett, who is Crafton’s current faculty co-chair for the English and reading department, arrived 14 years ago as a part time instructor before picking up a full-time gig.

His career in education began after graduating from Cal State San Bernardino with a bachelor’s in literature before moving on to Mills College in Oakland where he earned his master’s in creative writing.

It was while in Oakland he got his first start working with youth as part of the Boy Scouts of America’s Learning for Life program, which teaches inner city children life skills, Bartlett said.

Soon, New York came calling. But when he learned he was going to be a father, Bartlett moved closer to family living in the Inland Empire– just miles from where his father taught at Arrowhead Elementary School in San Bernardino and Cal State – and started his tenure at Crafton where he plans to stay for the long run.

Although writing may not be everyone’s strong suit, Bartlett said he tries to instill a boost of confidence to every student who walks into his classroom.

“My task is to not only help them develop their skills but develop the confidence inside because there’s so much untapped potential out there and so much they’re bringing to campus that they don’t yet realize,” he continued.“

When not teaching or developing lesson plans, Bartlett spends time with his partner of almost five years and their blended family of children, ranging in ages from 12-23.

And while he may have a busy schedule balancing both school and homelife, Bartlett knows he must stay in the moment and remind himself of that when “looking at the big picture,” he said. It’s that lesson he, too, tries to instill in his students.

“I think that is the biggest piece of advice I can give” Bartlett said. “When you get into college people talk about their longtime goals, but they don’t take the time to stay in the moment and look at this one particular moment in their life that’s happening now. We have to be mindful of that.”