Alisa Sikelianos-Carter offers dynamic, multi-day art workshops, artist talks, studio visits, and assemblies designed to engage students in creative exploration and critical thinking. Her programs invite participants to connect personal stories, cultural memory, and material experimentation through hands-on projects in drawing, painting, printmaking, collage and mixed media. Each session encourages curiosity, reflection, and collaboration, while introducing students to contemporary art practices and the role of art as a tool for self-expression and community building.

Middle/High School Why Music Students Excel Motivational Clinic for Band, Youth Orchestra and Chorus (Also appropriate for Theatre Kids.) Program Description This morale and self-esteem building session begins with a ten minute solo performance by Justin. The performance is intentionally virtuosic, leaving no doubt in the student's mind that the artist is a seasoned professional who has experienced success on stage. The objective of this learning experience for students is to reinforce what the music faculty has been stressing all along. That is: the student's musical experience and musical education goes well beyond 'blowing a horn'. This experience is about developing life survival skills. Skills that will help the students to become better adept at problem solving, decision making, enjoying a fulfilling life beginning now and into the future. Justin asks the students to identify skills that they have learned from their musical experience (lessons, practice, or performance) that they have found useful when they are outside the world of music. Skills described by the students typically range from attention to detail and time management, to conflict resolution and ability to accept criticism. At the end of this segment of the session, a list sometimes comprising as many as 24 skills has been articulated by the students. Kolb looks at the students and asks them to seriously contemplate the "skills inventory". Kolb then exclaims, "Look at who you are and what you can do!" He quickly points out that large corporations and even governments invest great amounts of dollars to teach their employees how to acquire these same skills.These sessions are highly informational, uplifting, fun and enhance self esteem. Justin gets along easily with students, parents, staff, and faculty.Willing to tailor sessions to better meet the needs of the students.

High-energy 45-minute assembly programs about bullying-prevention, character education, reading, and science. Who knew LEARNING could be this much FUN?!

National Geographic author and science celebrity Steve Tomecek, "The Dirtmeister" offers interactive science assemblies and non-fiction author programs for elementary schools and public libraries.

I am a performance storyteller and have told stories many times to children and adults of all ages. I tell the Odyssey, the Epic of Gilgamesh, numerous Norse and Irish myths and the Mahabharata epic of India as well as fairy tales and folk tales. I have taught storytelling to both adults and children, and have also taught poetry. I have been a ranger in Yosemite National Park, am a published poet, and have received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. I bring music to my storytelling and storytelling to my music. I love this work and welcome new opportunities.

The ArtSmart Educational Theatre Series presents performances specifically designed for school groups and are open to the general public as well. Children’s picture books and classic literature, United States and world history, relevant social issues and experiences are all transformed by nationally-touring performing artists. Our ArtSmart series is designed to encourage thinking, creativity and fun while complementing school lessons. Each year, The Smith presents a series for students of all ages.

I offer a wide range of opportunities to connect and give students both a visual and hands on experience through creativity. From mural painting to creating custom garments and being a social justice and arts activist, I use art as a catalyst to not only teach about the correlation of self love through art but to be an aid in leaving a long lasting and positive impact in communities with color.

“Amy helps students, from the very youngest to the very oldest, find inspiration and see the world with poet's eyes. She's helped some of our most reluctant writers find themselves in new words and images they never knew were there!” - Thomas Marshall, Principal, Stony Lane Elementary, Paramus, NJ “Amy’s engaging presentations were bursting with wise and inspiring words. She has a remarkable way of connecting with students and teachers, making poetry accessible to all. Her visit filled our school with joy!” - Dr. Kristie Miner, Literacy Coordinator, Tioughnioga Riverside Academy, Whitney Point, NY Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is author of several books for children and teachers, as well as keeper of the popular classroom blogs The Poem Farm and Sharing Our Notebooks. Some know her from her series of teaching videos offered during the COVID Spring of 2020, 72 lessons taught from “Betsy the Writing Camper.” A former upper grade teacher, Amy holds an MA in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, is a 25+ year writing teacher, served as editor of “The Poetry of Science” column in NSTA’s SCIENCE AND CHILDREN journal, and loves exploring creativity and writing with students and teachers. As a speaker or writer-in-residence, Amy gives presentations and teaches joyful writing workshops about topics ranging from poetry to reading like writers to notebook-keeping. Her next book, a narrative poetry picture book, is titled JOHN AND BETSY (Eerdmans). Author Visit: During an author visit, Amy usually speaks to the whole school throughout the course of one school day, one or two grade levels at a time, sharing information about everything from notebook keeping to the process of drafting a poem to the world of publication, all along weaving in poems, stories, and pictures related to her poems and books. This visit may be spread across three buildings for three assemblies if desired. An alternative to this is a day of classroom visits, up to five classrooms of 45-55 minutes each. Writing Residency: There is a great deal of flexibility in a writing residency. As a former elementary school teacher and longtime writing teacher, Amy enjoys working with students in a variety of settings and for one day or many. Possible residencies are not limited to but include: notebook making and notebook keeping, personal essay writing, writing from nature, and a variety of poetry workshops. Teacher Workshops & Conference Presentations: Amy loves to work with teachers and speak at conferences, focusing on poetry, notebooking, the habits of writing, conferring, and the joy of words and the world.

Kevin Szawala, also known as Mr. Peace, is a nationally recognized youth motivational speaker from Metro Detroit with a focus on diversity and inclusion, student mental health, bullying prevention, character education and staff enrichment. Additionally, all of his presentations are interactive, high-energy, and adaptable, and they all feature age-appropriate information, interesting multimedia, and inspirational hip-hop musical performances. Heart-focused programs like those Mr. Peace offers are more important than ever to support our children’s entire well-being in light of the consequences of the epidemic and remote learning. Consider booking an in-person or online visit for your upcoming assembly, conference, keynote, retreat, workshop, or other event to bring one of his motivational lectures to your school or organization (list of topics folow). Anti-Bullying Program | Diversity Program | Positivity Program | Leadership Program | Respect Program | Cyberbullying and Social Awareness Parent Program | College/Career Prep | Substance Abuse Prevention | Suicide Prevention | Staff Enrichment

I offer a variety of school assembly programs, including shows about recycling and water conservation. In addition I offer workshops in mime, movement and theater.

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.

The Children's Museum at Saratoga is dedicated to creating an interactive community that inspires curiosity, sparks imagination, and nurtures discovery. We are committed to serving as a resource for Capital Region school districts and to ensuring that programs and services are accessible to all children. The Museum offers outreach and field trip programs for students from preschool to 6th grade. Each program is designed to meet the needs of each classroom with plenty of opportunities for unique hands-on experiences. Programs correlate to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. They are wonderful additions to classroom curriculum as either an introduction to a lesson or to enhance current classroom units. The Museum's priority is to make educational programs accessible to all students. We ask that you please share any special needs your students may have ahead of time so that we can accommodate their needs. For more information about the Museum's program catalog and prices, please check out https://cmssny.org/education/.