This story originally appeared in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Harker Magazine, which can be read and downloaded from Harker’s issuu page.

Bernie Morrissey’s classroom is the middle school library, so individual students, teachers and entire classes circulate through his space all day. This keeps him involved with the campus in a unique way, as do his additional roles as GSA co-advisor and long-time lead of the middle school’s DEI Committee. Morrissey was raised in suburban Chicago but spends much of his time in San Francisco, where he lives with his husband, David, sings with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, and enjoys occasional volunteer meal shifts for Glide Memorial Church and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. Classroom In the The Tournament of Books connects students with books that are windows and mirrors. The large brackets are displayed right next to my desk in the library, so I get to hear students discussing the books and reacting to the vote totals. We are always trying to get students more involved in selecting Tournament books for future years.

What is your favorite book?

This is a tough question for a librarian, but the two books I’ve re-read the most frequently are “Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich, and “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” by Roz Chast.

What one piece of advice would you offer anyone who asks?

When something is out of your control, think in advance about how to be happy with either outcome.

What do you dislike that everyone else loves?

Chocolate.

What is your most treasured memory?

Every year on Dec. 24, my mom and I would take the 10-minute train ride to downtown Chicago to visit my dad’s office for a family holiday party and open house. Even though it was a very short journey, it felt like a totally different world.

Given the choice of anyone in the world, who would you want as a dinner guest and why?

Seth Rudetsky, who interviews all the Broadway stars and has so many stories about every actor and every show.

What is the one thing in the world you would fix if you could wave a magic wand?

I would make sure everyone has enough to eat.

What is something interesting about you that almost no one knows?

I have a list of every book I’ve read since 2003 and every haircut I’ve gotten since 2016.

In the Classroom

The Tournament of Books connects students with books that are windows and mirrors. The large brackets are displayed right next to my desk in the library, so I get to hear students discussing the books and reacting to the vote totals. We are always trying to get students more involved in selecting Tournament books for future years.