Since the age of six, Judie Magidson has lived in the same home in Newton.

It was where she first sat under what she calls a “large, but graceful tree” contemplating the wonders of nature.

It was where she first began writing.

It was also where she first encountered royalty.

“My sister and I were very young when we first saw Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show,” Magidson recalls. “Our mom, a classical pianist, loved his singing…[and] my dad was supportive of us viewing this new talent on TV.”

Years later, Magidson’s father would continue the family legacy by gifting her daughter an Elvis album.

“She loved it!” Magidson beams.

In the years between then and now, Magidson directed her passion for writing and learning to producing academic books and, as she puts it, “teaching other teachers how to teach students.”

“While holding academic meetings and school-related discussions with my colleagues,” she explains, “I realized that many instructors didn’t care to learn about their students. They only wanted the students to learn the basics.” Magidson’s theory was supported by students who came to her for advice when other teachers were failing to reach (and teach) them.

“They felt a disconnect,” she observes, “a ‘them-us’ relationship with their teachers.”

Delving into the available research, Magidson strove to learn more fully about students’ perceptions of their teachers and their feelings about “not being fully recognized as individuals, but only as students.”

The result of this research was Magidson’s first book, which also served as her doctoral dissertation thesis.

“[It] includes a curriculum that recognizes the importance for teachers to acknowledge their students as valuable people,” she notes, “who have experiences and ideas to offer.”

When asked how she became involved in education, Magidson recalls her mother asking her to “teach” what she had learned in school.

“She attentively listened as I shared new concepts and skills,” Magidson smiles. “We discussed ways to apply my newfound knowledge…[and] I discovered a love for teaching!”

Having been an early (and always voracious) reader, Magidson eventually found her way to the reading clinic at Northeastern University, where she garnered her Master’s degree in education.

“I connected with a student who was a 14-year-old non-reader,” she remembers. “He wanted to visit his mom in the hospital, but he couldn’t read maps and various signs and didn’t feel comfortable traveling by [subway] to get to her.” Devoted to making a difference, Magidson labelled everything in the room where we worked, and then brought in MBTA maps and other items the student might have to read in order to reach his mother.

“Within a few weeks, he came walking into his reading session, beaming as he told me he had ridden the T to the hospital, where he finally was able to visit with his mom,” Magidson says proudly. “This event cemented my decision to become a reading specialist!”

Though this career lasted for many years, when schools (and everything else) shut down during the pandemic, Magidson was left (as many of us were) looking for a new project to pass the time and exercise her skills.

“I happened to be on my phone and was surprised to see a random photo of Elvis,” she recalls.

Intrigued by what had led to this occurrence and what had sustained Presley’s star power for so long, Magidson began to do what any academic would—research.

“I discovered the breadth of his accomplishments and achievements,” she says, noting that, in addition to being a singer and actor, Elvis was also a noted philanthropist, artist, designer, and, Magidson asserts, a genius intellect.

Turning her researcher eye on Elvis, Magidson discovered many new sides to the story so many had thought were familiar, just as she had with her students.

“Unbeknownst to many of his fans, he battled unimaginable physical pain for years,” she points out, “but still he passionately continued with tours and stage performances to entertain multitudes of people. No wonder he has lasted so many years and will continue to be recognized for many years to come!”

As she was eager to share her discoveries, so more people could connect with the King (just as more teachers had connected with their students thanks to her efforts), Magidson decided that this would be her next project.

“I’ve written many poems, short stories, a children’s book…[and] created and developed a publication I named “Transitional Thoughts” while I taught at Brandeis,” Magidson replies when asked about her other literary pursuits. “I [also] wrote a chapter for a history textbook…created and taught a curriculum for a reading class at the YMCA, and created and taught the curriculum for…[a] study skills course at Northeastern.”

Once she was inspired to turn her research skills on the King, Magidson was all-in.

“I now wanted to learn about this unique individual,” she reasons, “to see him from an adult perspective, to build on the idea I had about him as a child and teen.”

Among Magidson’s first findings was another new book on Elvis that suggested he had Jewish roots.

“This discovery fascinated me,” she recalls, noting that, after reading the book, she tracked down the author and, over the course of an hour-long conversation, found that they had much in common.

“She too had an extensive teaching background and was an avid researcher,” Magidson maintains.

At the end of their talk, Magidson suggested that she could distinguish her own book by focusing on the performer’s religious background. The author, in turn, suggested Magidson connect with a researcher in Israel, who also agreed to work with her.

“She asked for as many photos, clips, etc. from the Elvis archives as I could find,” Magidson recalls. “ With each clip I sent to her, I wrote a paragraph describing my view, my analysis, my thoughts about Elvis.”

When Magidson’s new partner reached out to Sony Music to get the rights to some of Elvis’ songs, she hit a wall. As Magidson had already done so much work, however, the Israeli researcher suggested she start putting it into book form. She also introduced Magidson to a colleague in Los Angeles who made films.

“Based upon what this woman told him about my writing,” Magidson explains, “he asked me if I would send my work to him.” The producer quickly fell in love with Magidson’s work, and talks are ongoing regarding a possible film project.

“He gave me a host of options,” Magidson says excitedly, listing such possibilities as a hybrid documentary or a limited film series, “so now I’m waiting to hear back and hopefully soon, I’ll be able to turn my dream into reality!”