The “Silly Nomads” book series is a five-volume collection of children’s literature that target children ages 7- 12. I drew heavily on my own vibrant childhood experiences while growing up on the island of Jamaica. These stories, immersed young readers in a world of imaginative adventures and cultural discovery. Each book within the series encourages creativity and exploration, fostering a love of reading while subtly reinforcing essential life lessons and positive character traits. Beyond the books themselves, I actively engage with students through interactive school readings, aiming to ignite a lifelong passion for literature. The “Silly Nomads” offers a unique opportunity to introduce students to a different culture, enriching their understanding of the world and fostering empathy and appreciation for diverse perspectives. I look forward to sharing my childhood adventures with you and your students.

Mayta's Movement Programs: Teach to inspire. Touch the heart. “Ye are the fruits of one tree, the leaves of one branch.” Baha’u’llah A philosophy centered on teaching the love of the art of movement, multiculturalism, and helping students become peaceful, global citizens. Fusion Dance: This program has been developed to enable participants to understand, be inspired by and learn about different cultures through dance. It features Flamenco (Spain), Bharatanatyam (India), West African, Modern (USA), Latin, and Caribbean dance styles. The goal of this program is for students to learn the differences, similarities, history and cultural aspects of each dance style. Students engage with this material through an embodied, experiential approach. Spanish Language through Movement: This multidisciplinary program was developed to enable participants to learn, interpret and understand Spanish language through movement. The goal of this program is to foster learning of conversational skills in a new, fun way, for use in travel and daily life. The aim is for each participant to develop a love for Spanish culture and an excitement to learn more about this beautiful language. As a key aspect of cultural immersion, students learn Latin dance styles such as Salsa, Merengue and Bachata. Creative Movement and Yoga: Explore the world of movement! This lively class introduces participants to the basic dance concepts such as rhythm space, and music. Literature, poetry, visual art, props, yoga and storytelling are included to allow the participants to stretch their bodies and their imagination! This class will improve flexibility, creativity, concentration, focus, balance, bodily awareness, and strength. Transcending language prejudice through movement: Let's have a conversation about language, being bilingual, having an accent and how one gets treated because of how one speaks. Lets listen to each others stories about language and its affects. We will be creative and explore the power that language has on the world through movement. My aim is that we find our respect for the languages of the world and to bring awareness that languages bring us together. Through movement explorations and story telling.

Music direction for an elementary musical. I will be assisting director Janet Kringer

I offer an entertaining and educational group presentation, Mind, Body and Spirit, focused on how I develop the Mind, the Body and the Spirit for success. I perform poetry from my books and show each attribute's role in my life and work. There is no audience size limit. I also offer poetry and photography workshops and a popular new addition, Becoming a Ninja: The Secret to My Success, which focuses on goal setting and achievement. Due to the participatory nature of the workshops, participant size is limited to 30 students. I can also do virtual visits, which can be customized to your needs.

The Funkey Munkey Show is a high-energy, interactive educational assembly that combines meaningful messages with music, comedy, games, and audience participation. Featuring professional entertainer and motivational speaker Jerome Bartlett and the hilarious Funkey Munkey, each program gets students laughing, learning, and actively involved. Designed for Pre-K through grade 6, the show makes important ideas memorable by connecting them to experiences students can understand and apply. Whether students are preparing for state assessments, practicing kindness, building positive habits, or discovering the joy of reading, the message comes to life through an engaging shared experience. Higher Impact Entertainment has served schools in 49 states. Programs can be tailored to a school’s grade levels, goals, theme, and schoolwide expectations, with multiple performances available to accommodate separate age groups. State Test Preparation: “I’m READY!” Help students approach testing with confidence, a positive attitude, and practical strategies. This motivational program encourages students to recognize their preparation, manage nervous feelings, stay focused, and give their best effort. The READY message provides five memorable reminders: - R — Reach: Set goals and reach for your potential. - E — Erase: Erase negative thinking and replace it with encouraging self-talk. - A — Apply: Apply what you have learned and use your test-taking strategies. - D — Do Your Best: Focus, take your time, and give your best effort. - Y — You Can: Believe in your ability to take on a challenge. The program supports the work teachers are already doing while building enthusiasm and confidence before testing season. Character Education and Social-Emotional Learning These programs encourage students to make thoughtful choices, develop positive relationships, take responsibility, and recognize how their actions affect others. Schools can select a theme that complements their character education or SEL priorities: - Be the IMPACT: Impress, Motivate, Positive, Achieve, Courage, Together. Students explore how their choices, attitude, and willingness to help can make a positive difference at school and beyond. - Be SUPER!: Safe, United, Power, Empathy, Rise. Students discover everyday ways to be heroes through safe choices, teamwork, empathy, and actions that help others. - Choose to SHINE: Special, Honest, Inspire, Nice, Enjoy. This uplifting program celebrates individual strengths while encouraging honesty, kindness, inclusion, and a positive approach to everyday challenges. - I’ve Got the POWER: Potential, Opportunity, Winner, Education, Respect. Students are encouraged to recognize their potential, make the most of opportunities, value learning, and demonstrate respect. - Live the DREAM: Direction, Responsible, Encourage, Action, Merit. Students connect their goals to responsible choices, encouragement, effort, and purposeful action. - The Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Fairness, Caring, Respect, Responsibility, Citizenship. These familiar values become practical examples of how students can contribute to a positive school community. - High-5 Character: Follow Directions, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Use Self-Control, Be Prepared. This program reinforces five clear expectations students can practice throughout the school day. Kindness, Respect, and Bully Prevention Build a school culture where students feel included, respected, and encouraged to seek help. Through age-appropriate examples and interactive activities, students explore empathy, respectful words and actions, accepting differences, and including others. The program also addresses safe ways to respond when someone is being mistreated, including supporting classmates and reporting concerns to a trusted adult. Content can be incorporated into a character theme such as Choose to SHINE or Be SUPER!, or tailored to the school’s bully prevention priorities. Reading Motivation: “Reading ROCKS!” Celebrate books and help students see themselves as readers. This energetic program presents reading as an opportunity for enjoyment, discovery, imagination, and growth. Each letter in ROCKS reinforces a reason to read: - R — Really Fun: Reading can be an enjoyable part of everyday life. - O — Options: Different books, topics, and formats give readers choices. - C — Cool: Reading is something to celebrate. - K — Knowledge: Books help us learn about the world and discover new interests. - S — Success: Reading supports learning, confidence, and future goals. Reading ROCKS! is a strong fit for literacy celebrations, reading challenges, family literacy events, and schoolwide reading initiatives. Goal Setting and Personal Motivation Encourage students to identify goals, recognize their strengths, and take action. This program emphasizes effort, persistence, positive self-talk, and learning from mistakes. Students explore how small, consistent choices can help them make progress in school and in life. Themes such as Live the DREAM and I’ve Got the POWER provide memorable frameworks for these messages. Drug Prevention and Healthy Choices Support age-appropriate drug prevention education with an encouraging focus on healthy decisions, personal responsibility, positive influences, and asking trusted adults for help. Content is adjusted for the participating grade levels and can support Red Ribbon Week or other school wellness initiatives. PBIS and Schoolwide Expectations Reinforce the behaviors and shared expectations that help a school community succeed. Programs can incorporate a school’s existing language, values, or behavior expectations, with messages about safety, respect, responsibility, self-control, preparedness, and teamwork. This option supports PBIS and the schoolwide prevention component of MTSS by giving students a memorable, shared experience around positive choices. Back-to-School Programs Start the year with energy, connection, and a sense of belonging. These assemblies welcome students, celebrate new opportunities, and introduce or reinforce schoolwide expectations. Messages emphasize friendship, respect, teamwork, and taking responsibility for a successful school year. End-of-Year Programs Celebrate students’ effort and growth while reinforcing lessons they can carry into summer and the next school year. These programs combine an exciting school celebration with messages about achievement, kindness, positive choices, and continuing to learn. Family Fitness and Family Engagement Bring students and families together through interactive games, music, movement, and shared participation. Family Fitness events encourage active fun and connection while creating an engaging opportunity for families to participate in their school community. Program Format and Technical Requirements The standard school assembly is approximately 55 minutes, with adjustments available to meet scheduling needs. Content and presentation are adapted for the audience, and schools may schedule separate performances for younger and older students. The Funkey Munkey Show is self-contained. Higher Impact Entertainment travels with the equipment needed for the performance, including speakers and microphones. The school provides an electrical outlet, an appropriate performance area, and a private changing space for the mascot. The program can adapt to a variety of school spaces and audience sizes. Additional educational resources are available to help schools reinforce program messages. Pricing is all-inclusive, and dates are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Partnership pricing is available for schools coordinating performances during the same trip. Booking Contact: Jerome Bartlett Phone: (210) 882-2255 Email: jerome@higherimpactent.com Program Information: HigherImpactEnt.com Upcoming Tour Dates: FunkeyMunkeyShow.com

Whispering Willow Wildcare is a wildlife rehabilitation organization specializing in raptors/birds of prey and corvids. Our work includes caring for injured and orphaned wildlife, rehabilitation, and public wildlife education using non-releasable “raptor ambassadors. We offer educational programming to students of all ages featuring variety of live birds so the students can see them up close.

Established in February of 2011, the Theatre Institute at Sage is dedicated to providing quality live theatre and arts-in-education programming to Capital Region youth, educators and residents. The Institute also provides opportunities for Russell Sage students as performers, technicians and teachers. Programs include educational support services (such as in-class preparations, teacher in-services, post-show residences, and study guides), after school drama programs, weekend workshops, and several theatre camps during the summer for children ages 6-18.

Ten different programs including 45 minute presentations on the Dutch in NY, the Erie Canal, the American Revolution, Our Hudson River Heritage, How the Railroads Built America and America's Steamboat Heritage. Marvin Bubie is the author of (3) books: "On the Trail of Henry Hudson and Our Dutch Heritage Through the Municipal Seals in New York, 1609 to 2009" "Celebrating the Revolutionary War: Municipal Symbols of a Free Country" "Along the Erie Canal with the Municipal Seals of the Cities, Towns, and Villages of NY"

The Physics Bus rolls up to schools, parks, fairs, and community centers to invite hands-on science for the senses. Most of our exhibits and demonstrations are made from repurposed materials, offering direct experience with unusual phenomena in an unintimidating "you can do it" way. Themed physics presentations available by special request. Free Science Inc. also offers hands-on tinkering experiences for kids (at your school or a field trip to our site in Ithaca), and teacher workshops on how to make science & engineering fun, accessible, and personally meaningful.

Over the past 25 years, I’ve had the honor and privilege of inspiring students all over the world to create and write stories. My presentations are approximately 45 to 60 minutes of high energy, immersing students in my story creation process. Using time-lapse video, music, and digital technology, I discuss writing, biology, research, illustration, and editing while addressing how and where I get my ideas. I keep a journal full of ideas and drawings. My stories start from those ideas, and I show the process from idea seed to finished story. I narrate a new or previously published story to the students, engaging them with video and music. I follow with a live computer drawing demonstration, usually projected onto a screen or big TV behind me. In most instances, it’s a simple drawing created from scratch that contains many concepts learned in curricula: insect biology, the difference between a bug and a beetle, primary and opposite colors, symmetry, and horizontal/ vertical placement. It also has just the right touch of humor :-) I airdrop a digital copy to the teachers to take back to their classrooms afterward. I like to take questions from the students at the end of the presentation. I appreciate the efforts of all the librarians, PTOs, and school administrators who have made my visits possible. My presentations have been described as engaging, educational, and a lot of fun.

The Collaborative School of the Arts gives students the opportunity to witness world-class dance, theatre, music, and film. Students experience live theatre and while learning curriculum at the same time in our historic MainStage or our intimate black box GE Theatre. Curriculum guides are available to reinforce key concepts before and after the field trip.

At the Utica Zoo, we are able to offer a variety of educational experiences both at the zoo itself and at Beaversprite, our conservation education center. Firstly, we offer field trips at both sites. Field trips to the zoo can be self-guided or fully educator led and can include a zoo introduction or curated conservation class tailored to the groups learning objectives. Beaversprite trips are all educator led and include exploration of the visitor center and guided hikes of the pristine 1300-acre wetland property. We additionally offer zoo outreach programs in a variety of styles, in which we aim to bring the zoo to you. For our outreach "Zoomobile" programs, we typically bring between three to five live ambassador animals and give a presentation on their biology, ecology, and conservation status and challenges. We also offer more heavily conservation focused programs, stressing issues like climate change, habitat loss, or invasive species. For these programs we bring fewer live animals but will bring a customizable PowerPoint presentation on the topic of choice and/or a guided activity that encourages active engagement by the students.