Billy Staples was born and raised in Phillipsburg, New Jersey and graduated from Phillipsburg Catholic High School. During his childhood, Billy had the privilege of spending time in the Phillies, Mets and Yankees clubhouses.
After graduating Kappa Delta Phi from East Stroudsburg University in 1993, Billy developed a unique style of teaching English that helped win him several awards, including 1998-2000 nominations for Disney’s National Teacher of the Year.
Through the support of Chicken Soup for the Soul author Jack Canfield, Staples and Rich Herschlag signed a book deal for Before the Glory. Billy spent the next 12 years on the road promoting education and reading.
Building on the success of Before the Glory, Billy, Linny Fowler, and Judy Tierney founded the scholarship group B.E.S.T. The program has provided financial support and mentoring to over 70 college students and encouraged them to return to their communities to give back.