The BPO is proud to present educational programming that is developed with the assistance of music teachers and curriculum writers. The BPO Music for Youth Concert series offers educational concerts during the school day to introduce students to the best orchestral repertoire, with a focus on music learning concepts being taught in the classroom, and active participation through interactive program elements for students in Grades 1-8. Full-length (2 hour) BPO concerts on Friday mornings give students in Grades 7-12 a chance to hear complete pieces of repertoire in a casual atmosphere. To view all Music for Youth concert opportunities, please visit education.bpo.org. BPO Teaching Artists bring unique arts engagement into your classroom through the dynamism of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's professional musicians. Presentations feature interactive music learning opportunities and authentic connections between music and other areas of learning, with an emphasis on artistic excellence and can meet varied classroom learning objectives. Your BPO understands the importance of arts engagement in developing creative thinkers and innovators who value learning over a lifetime. The BPO offers Classroom Programs that explore arts learning through movement activities, active listening and authentic connections between music and other areas of study. These musician-developed programs bring a unique perspective and a wealth of beautiful music to concepts you are teaching in your classroom. Programs can be adapted for your needs and specific age groups, Are you looking for a guest artist to work in-depth with your instrumental music students on repertoire, music fundamentals, instrument-specific techniques, performance techniques or even to speak on career readiness? Our musicians can work with your band, orchestra or instrumental section on individual and ensemble music proficiency. Choose an artist from your preferred instrument family and bring an expert into your music room to inspire the best from your students through the BPO's Workshop, Clinic, and Residency offerings. Explore all Teaching Artist programs at bpo.org/teaching-artists.

Nick Tokman, “Sunshine” on Discovery Channel’s ‘Deadliest Catch,’ speaks nationally building students' self-worth so they think for themselves and make the best decisions for their future. He partners with schools to address common issues students face including peer pressure, high expectations from family and negative influences. Through storytelling and visuals, he shares with students his path prior to becoming known as ‘Sunshine’ on the hit tv show and how he dealt with struggles that many teens and tweens go through along with the mindset he developed to overcome his obstacles, mistakes and failures. After Nick’s presentation, students will leave believing in themselves to say no to peer pressure and other outside influences that get in the way of who they are and what they want to do with their lives. Having presented across the country to crowds as large as 17,000 people, students will leave remembering these lessons in an entertaining and memorable way. Nick is available both live and virtually. See Nick’s website to tour his virtual studio!

Being One World provides research-informed professional development designed to strengthen staff effectiveness, resilience, and school culture. Services include workshops and multi-session training in growth mindset, trauma-informed practice, mindfulness-based self-regulation, emotional intelligence, and conscious leadership development. Workshops support educators and leaders in reducing stress-driven reactivity, improving communication and collaboration, building identity-affirming learning environments, and sustaining performance in high-demand settings. All sessions are practical, experiential, and aligned with district goals related to social-emotional learning, staff wellness, culturally responsive practice, and improved student outcomes. Professional development is available in in-person formats and can be customized to meet district priorities.

Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo offers many different learning opportunities for all ages and abilities. We can travel to your location within a one-hour radius of the zoo. We can do virtual learning for anyone, anywhere! Onsite at the zoo we offer guided tours, project-based learning projects, professional development for teachers to learn more ways to use the zoo as a living classroom, self-guided educational opportunities, Pre-K literacy series, STEM challenges and immersive classroom experiences. Choose from one of our topics or we can customize a program specifically for your needs.

For schools, community organizations, and other large groups, Stone Quarry offers artist-led experiences of the grounds that include making activities for students and adults. Stone Quarry’s teaching artists design experiences that are responsive and specific to your group’s interests. For an artist-led experience, we suggest a $15 per person donation or a pay-what-you-can sliding scale.

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.

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.

I offer 3 programs Dreamcatcher-Indigenous American Story, Visions-Magical Stories of Peace and Compassion, World of Wonder-Stories, magic, hand shadows, and characters from around the world.

Inspiring author visits, storytelling "concerts" and writing workshops for all grade levels. Awesome Educational Fun! Mark Binder is the author of more than two-dozen books and audiobook, including "The Bed Time Story Book," "Cinderella Spinderella," "It Ate My Sister" and many more. He is an Audie Audiobook Award Nominee, and a Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner. A graduate of Columbia University, he holds an MA in Theater and English. As a storyteller, he has more than 25 years experience in schools around the world. He has taught writing to students in colleges, high schools, middle and elementary schools.

School Assembly: First Choice & A Second Chance This program begins with an introduction video aimed at knocking down the stigma attached to substance use disorder, educating the audience on the current drug epidemic, and setting the stage for a powerful, honest and heartfelt story. During interviews with Stephen’s family, it becomes clear he had a great childhood. “No one saw this coming.” Through sharing his lived experience, Stephen shows how mental health struggles can lead to addiction, the consequences of substance use, and how stigma prevented him from asking for help and contributed to his inability to recover. His storytelling technique allows each individual person to draw conclusions in their own meaningful way as it relates to their own life. By focusing on the progression of his dependence—beginning to end—attendees will gain a better understanding of how the choices they make today will affect them, and those around them, for the rest of their lives. The trifecta gateway drugs of nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana introduced to Stephen in 8th grade by older peers was just the beginning, eventually leading to self-destructive behaviors, criminal convictions, and a deadly opioid addiction that Stephen directly states he would have never made it out alive if fentanyl was as prevalent during his addiction as it is today. He takes you through his struggles and extremely difficult times, then slowly transitions into sobriety—emphasizing that recovery is possible. Through practicing gratitude, healthy routines, and changing his mindset to view his challenges as opportunities to inspire others, profound changes began to happen in Stephen’s life. The pivotal moment occurred just before he celebrated one year of recovery. Stephen was given a second chance to turn his mess into a message by working in the field of addiction treatment and prevention. From there, he gained the confidence to share his story, go back to college and eventually law school. Today, he speaks all across the country to inspire others to lead healthy, substance-free lives. Attendees will leave this program better educated on mental health and substance use, with practical tools and coping skills to work through challenges, a better understanding of the ripple effect—how our actions influence and impact others, and with a goal-oriented mindset to build a life worth protecting. Breakout Sessions: Break the Silence As a follow-up to the assembly, breakout sessions build on Stephen’s talk and focus on reinforcing key concepts. These sessions offer students a unique chance to ask personal questions and engage in open discussions in a comfortable, intimate setting. Each session delves deeper into the most crucial topics covered in the assembly, allowing students to ask relevant questions and share their takeaways. Typically held in Health and PE classes, these sessions can be tailored to specific grades or customized schedules. Stephen’s Breakout Session worksheet allows students to submit anonymous responses, fostering honesty and openness. The anonymous data collected offers critical insights for schools, helping them identify areas where further support or follow-up might be necessary. Additionally, these insights can be used to reinforce the positive takeaways from Stephen's message throughout the school year, ensuring that the impact of the sessions continues to resonate with students long after the program concludes. Assembly/Workshop: Know the Law, Save a Life An interactive program educating high school seniors on laws related to drugs and alcohol, as well as the legal and moral consequences of their actions. Stephen begins by qualifying himself through sharing his experience on both sides of the law, both as a defendant during his struggles with substance use and now as a defense attorney in recovery. Students learn basic courtroom terms, criminal laws, civil laws, and the potential penalties and liability that can follow from breaking these laws. Stephen gives fact patterns with real life scenarios so students can see how these laws play out in situations young people are faced with everyday. Some of the laws covered are the Good Samaritan Law, DWI/DUI & Zero Tolerance, Vehicular Homicide, Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Deaths, Social Host Liability, Providing Alcohol to Minors, Fake IDs, Hazing, Affirmative Consent to Sexual Activity, and Defamation of Character. Stephen also covers fentanyl and the misperception of harm due to the legalization of marijuana. Professional Development: Transforming Youth Discipline & Justice with Restorative Practices Transforming school discipline and criminal justice policies from punitive to restorative practices for youth struggling with substance use disorder not only saves lives—it builds lives worth defending. School administrators and law enforcement face significant challenges to find the most effective response when a young person—anyone under the age of 25—breaks the law or violates a code of conduct for drugs and alcohol. Stephen Hill brings extensive personal and professional experience on this topic. His unique perspective comes from his work as a criminal defense attorney with a focus on drug and alcohol related offenses, recovery coach, and youth motivational speaker. His work was inspired by his own adverse childhood experiences—out-of-school suspensions, removal from school sports teams, felony convictions—the labels and stigma that came with it, and the trauma that followed. We often hear administrators and law enforcement, when faced with an individual who violated the law or code of conduct, must make decisions by balancing the best interests of the individual and the community. Stephen’s training helps people recognize how the best interests of individual offenders and communities align more than most people think. Through sharing his personal testimony and advocacy work today, Stephen reveals innovative solutions for schools and communities to develop systems to achieve better outcomes for young people facing behavioral and/or criminal justice challenges because of substance use disorder or a co-occurring disorder. At the end of this session participants will be able to: Recognize situations, when dealing with youth discipline and justice, that require restorative practices to achieve better outcomes Explain why punishment is not effective for specific or general deterrence for youth struggling with substance use disorder or a co-occurring disorder Communicate the ideology and evidence behind restorative practices—particularly for youth—so more people in their community can understand and support restorative practices Develop systems and procedures for youth discipline and justice that add more protective factors rather than removing them with strictly punitive measures

1. K-12 Storytelling Workshop 2. Professional Development for Teachers and Staff 3. Train the Teacher in Storytelling Writing on Your Feet is an exciting new storytelling course for students in grades K-12. Developed over a five-year period in partnership with Taconic Hills Elementary School, Writing on Your Feet provides students the opportunity to generate story ideas, teaches concepts such as a story arc and the skills of live storytelling. Writing on Your Feet complements most schools’ personal narrative writing curricula by introducing students to an innovative approach to storytelling that helps them identify what they want to say in their story, as well as how to say it; students first learn to speak their story and then, after doing so, are prepared to write it down. Writing on Your Feet is a highly impactful, program that uniquely scaffolds a school’s writing curriculum by introducing kids to personal narrative development through storytelling. The Ancram Center believes that this kind of creative pedagogy–one that allows for a wide range of learners to develop an essential skill–is key to supporting individual academic attainment. The course is taught over four 45-minute classes with an optional storytelling event to culminate the students’ work. The classes can be completed over two to four weeks depending on a school’s needs. The Ancram Center also offers one-time two-hour versions of this workshop. Professional development workshops and train the teacher sessions are also available.

I offer hands-on creative writing workshops in poetry and prose (3-5 days each---3 workshops per day---across a chosen grade level, where each class gets 3-5 visits each). I meet with teachers to discuss their curriculum needs and thematic requests, suggesting various workshop ideas tailored to their requests. Teachers then choose what works best for them---for example: Assistance with reluctant writers, adding details, word choice, adjective strength, voice---in whatever current learning theme is paramount, such as animals, environment, feelings, character development, social studies, etc. I support teachers throughout the residency where they will be present and interact whenever their insight is needed as I teach. During and after the residency, I check in (over lunch, etc.) to ascertain how teachers are feeling about their students' progress, and also to offer many resources from both my books, stories, poems, and teacher oriented publications (nine books with Scholastic Professional Books for teachers) where they might copy any lessons they wish to use in the future. I also offer follow-up ideas at the end of every residency for those who wish to continue using the writing "tools/ideas" I present to their students. And there are always numerous options! I love to work with the core levels to help develop a stronger writing momentum with students (for example, 2nd grades in fall, same students in 3rd grade with different themes/format the following year, 4th grade added on or begun simultaneously--always building on previous workshop skills, etc. Districts have booked me in various schools for 25 plus years, often having me conduct workshops from year to year in multiple levels, as teachers love the support and boost my energy brings to their classrooms and students from which they springboard after I leave. The sky's the limit! I am here to serve educationally and creatively.