He received a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, an M.Ed. from Temple University, and a B.A. from The University of Chicago. His teaching includes the courses Literature for Children and Young Adults, and Responding to Literature. His students universally acclaim his mastery of the subject and his enthusiasm for teaching it. One student makes clear that Professor Sipe’s enthusiasm extends beyond the classroom, writing that he opens “the doors to his office to talk about potential projects, counsel students on issues of practice, make book recommendations, and lend books for readalouds from his collection.” A colleague remarks that what can appear as effortless teaching excellence is created because he “deliberately designs activities in each class that foster collaborative discovery.”