Dear School District Administrators and Educators, As both a lifelong musician and a proud product of our public school music programs, I’m passionate about bringing real-world music industry experiences into classrooms across New York State. I’ve had the privilege of working with many districts to design exciting, hands-on programs that inspire creativity, connect to STEAM principles, and align directly with state learning standards. My Music Industry Programs combine songwriting, instrument design and repair, live performance, and recording arts—giving students the opportunity to create, innovate, and explore the many sides of the modern music world. Using tools like 3D printers, CNC machines, and digital audio workstations, students connect engineering, math, technology, and art while building instruments, writing songs, and learning to play. These programs encourage collaboration, problem-solving, and self-expression—skills that reach far beyond music class and into every academic subject. As an educator and professional musician, I’ve shared the stage with legendary artists including Walter Trout, Mike Zito, Dickey Betts (Allman Bros.), Tommy Castro, Blackberry Smoke, Levon Helm (The Band), and Arlo Guthrie. I’ve toured with the Masters of the Telecaster (featuring G.E. Smith (SNL), Jim Weider, and Duke Levine (Bob Dylan)), received recognition from the Louis Armstrong Jazz Foundation, Berklee School of Music, and won Best Blues Recording from the Syracuse Area Music Awards two years in a row. I’ve also performed at major events like the NYS Blues Festival, Taste of Country Festival, Chenango Blues Festival, and countless sold-out venues across the region. Beyond performing, I’m deeply invested in arts education and community development. I’m the founder of a thriving Music School in Norwich, NY, serve on the Board of the Earlville Opera House, and act as Main Stage Music Coordinator for the Colorscape Chenango Arts & Music Festival. I also co-founded the Oxford Academy Summer Theater & Performing Arts Camp, Founder of the Norwich Youth Bureau Summer Guitar Camp and provide specialized backline support for touring artists—all of which help connect students to authentic, working examples of the music industry. Music is not just for the music classroom—it enhances literacy, history, math, science, and emotional intelligence. I believe every student deserves the chance to discover their creative voice, and I’d love to collaborate with your district to design a personalized, engaging, and unforgettable program for your students. Let’s create something extraordinary together!

Goat on a Boat is a nonprofit puppet theater that has been building, performing and presenting a variety of puppet shows for young children and their grown-ups since 2001. Shows can fit into classrooms, auditoriums or can be performed outdoors from our Puppet Truck stage. Using a variety of puppetry styles, our shows are based on well-loved classics as well as original stories about friendship, the environment and more. Puppet making workshops provide the opportunity for young students to improvise their own stories, to work together to create characters, build sets, stages and puppets. At the end of each workshop, there is short performance where students can share what they've made. Our residencies provide the time and space to create longer, themed shows that can connect to STEM classroom learning objectives. Goat on a Boat also offers Professional Development workshops that teach educators how to make a variety of puppet projects to use in the classroom as well as how to manipulate and how to make their puppets come to life. We believe that Puppetry is the gateway to a life-long love of Theater and the Performing Arts. This unique art form brings Art to life and engages children's imaginations in so many valuable ways.

From color-changing creatures to extreme environments to far-out foods, Alicia Klepeis loves to research fun and out-of-the-ordinary topics that bring the world to young readers. Alicia began her career at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. She is the author of over 200 children’s books, the majority of which are nonfiction. Her recent nonfiction titles include Go Wild! Frogs; Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts; and Polar Bears & Penguins: A Pretty Cool Introduction to the Arctic and Antarctic. She was featured on PBS Books’ Author Talk for Kids series about her book The Science And Technology Of Ben Franklin. Her fiction works include the wildlife-focused collections Secrets of the Forest and Secrets of the Ocean: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired By Nature. She is also the author of the picture book Francisco’s Kites/Las cometas de Francisco, which was named to the Tejas Star Reading List. A former middle school teacher, Alicia loves doing author visits and regularly presents to kids from PreK – Grade 8. Her programs include Amazing Animals, Making Nonfiction Fun, and Let’s Go There! She is more than happy to tailor her presentations to a school’s interests and curricula. She is currently working on projects on the topics of nocturnal animals, popular musicians, and world history. She lives with her family in upstate New York where she can often be found eating fruity candy while reading a book or writing a letter to one of her many penpals.

The Buffalo Zoo's Education team is here to provide your students with a WILD educational experience! Whether you're looking for a virtual program that will take you inside some of our animal exhibits, a presentation to enhance your Zoo field trip, or the Zoomobile to bring the Zoo to You, we can meet your group's learning needs. There are so many topics to choose from, including unique habitats, amazing adaptations, conservation, and so much more!

Offering a local author visit. The author will read the story aloud and talk about the process of writing and publishing a story. She will answer student questions and sign any books purchased.

I teach fun, hands-on painting workshops with a specialty in watercolor, gouache, and murals!

Teaching Artists ROC places teaching artists in area schools, after-school programs, senior centers, civic/cultural spaces and local events. These performers and artists enrich existing curricula and support programming by introducing participants to new ideas, concepts and cultures. Outlets of expression are provided for people of all ages, abilities, and walks of life. Who We Are We are independent teaching artists and ensembles sharing a common interest in providing meaningful arts learning experiences for students of all ages. As teaching artists, we share the skills and perspectives we have developed through years of dedication to our disciplines. We don’t just teach our art. We teach a variety of subject areas using our art. Each artist on our roster is different. Each has something special to offer.

QP Leadership's unique, three-pronged expertise combining education administration, veteran teaching, and executive business success provides a results-focused approach to improving classroom culture, moving from an "I, Me, My" mindset to a collaborative "We, Us, Our" environment. Our effective strategies address the challenges teachers face every day with Generation Alpha, especially given the significant impact technology and AI are having on students' emotional intelligence and social emotional learning. We are designed for immediate application and deliver proven, actionable strategies: Compassionate Discipline, FORM, 'Whale Done', and Total Quality Management Models. QP Leadership will present a high-value, relevant, and engaging professional development session that meets the critical need for effective behavioral and cultural strategies in today's classrooms.

I provide paintings, art prints, and photography services directly to clients. My work is featured in a number of private collections within (and beyond) Western New York. In 2016, I founded Avery & Harlow to grow my art business. I have individual and commercial clients, including Meet & Eat Charcuterie, Magic Bear Beer Cellar, Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House, Trocaire College, Canisius University, and TEAM VIA (New York City Real Estate Advisors). I've donated art to Lollypop Farm Humane Society of Greater Rochester, Massachusetts Avenue Project, Rochester Contemporary Art Center (as part of the 2023 and 2024 6x6 fundraiser exhibition) and the WNY Women's Foundation. In addition, I'm a former instructor (specializing in business and marketing) for the Arts Management Program at University at Buffalo. I'm also a Teaching Artist and marketing consultant for GWFA Gallery in Hamburg, New York.

Nurture fun, character, wellness, reading, STEAM, and more with The UP Guys! Nels Ross and Richie Derwald uplift and empower through elementary, middle, and high school assemblies as well as staff development. They have shared 2500+ solo or duo programs to rave reviews from schools, arts centers, libraries, recreation, museums, and others. Applying their diverse training in theater, variety arts, music, and education, they promote laughter and learning! See www.theupguys.com/teaching-artists for more.

Abracabully – The I.C.A.R.E. Program Abracabully is an interactive school assembly that blends magic, storytelling, and powerful lessons to inspire students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The program is built around the I.C.A.R.E. values: Individual, Community, Attitude, Respect, and Empathy. Through amazing illusions and real-life stories, students are entertained while learning how their actions affect others, why kindness matters, and how to make better decisions to build a safer, more supportive school environment. Now in its 11th year, Abracabully has empowered thousands of students to stand up against bullying, show respect, and embrace empathy—making schools stronger, kinder communities.

Chris Herren is a former professional basketball player, a voice on the topic of substance use prevention and a wellness advocate. Since 2009, Chris has spoken to over two million students, athletes and community members, sparking honest discussions on the topics of substance use disorder and wellness. A person in long-term recovery, Chris continues to share his story in school communities nationally with a renewed focus on prevention education and challenging audiences to rethink how we look at the disease of addiction – changing the focus from the last day to the first.