A violinist and string teacher of 30 years of experience, I offer PD presentations for music teachers such as: "Troubleshooting String Technique Issues," "Jazz Composition in Middle School String Orchestra," "How to help your students manage Performance Anxiety." I also have presentations/workshops for string students, grades 3-12: "Vibrato: basics," "The Process of Sight Reading" In addition, I am available as a teacher coach for music teachers who are new to teaching string instruments (such as a band teacher who gets assigned strings in their school).

I am a children's book author with long experience visiting schools around the country, from California to South Carolina, Texas to Illinois. I am especially happy to visit ANYWHERE in New York State, from Long Island to the North Country and everywhere in between. I've published a range of books from PreK to Young Adult, and I'm still actively publishing today. I love visiting schools and I'm grateful to meet and try to inspire young readers and writers.

I am a mixed media metal artist & silversmith. I have been teaching the art of jewelry making & metalworking to all ages for the last 5 years. Students really enjoy making their own jewelry and have a lot of pride wearing a piece home. These classes can involve small torches, saws, abrasives, and drenel tools. They are very safe when used correctly and we go over safety precautions in depth.

1. "Disability is O.K.!" (Openness and Kindness) is a disability awareness presentation with interactive theatre that can be modified for different age groups. Using books and resources as a launching point, sharing our story, showing our mobility devices and real life examples, we will create a safe space to ask questions, be curious and learn about difference. Students and facilitators will create good/bad scenarios about life where we learn what really matters... being OPEN and KIND. Both Sofiya Cheyenne and her friends have dwarfism and they have been sharing their story to teach youth all over New York! We bring an incredible amount of knowledge since both of our experiences are so unique. Assembly style: can do the whole student body but must be separated based on age. Must be within a 3hr window of time. (Example- 9am-9:45 prek-1st grade / 10am-10:45am 2nd and 3rd grade / 11am-11:45am 4th and 5th grade) Classroom style: smaller and more intimate conversations and play! Can do up to two to four 45 min sessions in a 4hr hour window. Must be within a 4hr window. (Example- 9am-9:45 Kindergarten / 10am-10:45am 3rd grade / 11am-11:45am 4th grade / 12-12:45pm 5th grade) Workshops are contingent on size of class / age and AV equipment materials available. 2. "And SEEN" is a student centered theatre class that will teach disability culture and access, empathy, leadership and other important life skills.. Through improvisation, I AM Poems and theatrical expression we have created a hands-on approach to learning about the self and our impact in the world. Using exercises such improv, meaningful play, creative writing, and storytelling, we build self-esteem and confidence in our students so they can tackle the world like the incredible leaders they are! With empathy and empowerment at the center of this workshop the students will be SEEN in their craft, in their peers, and in themselves. Workshops are subject to change based on age and size of group. I can even adjust my lesson to the specific needs of students ( i.e. bullying, self awareness, social awareness, social/emotional skills, confidence, leadership, team building ) Weekly rate - $2,500 for four to five 1 hr sessions with the same classroom Sofiya is a New York based multi-disciplinary performance artist, teaching artist, and disability advocate/consultant. She has appeared on television shows such as “At Home With Amy Sedaris” on TrueTV, “StartUP” on Netflix, and “Loudermilk” on AmazonPrime. She is passionate in her advocacy as her advisor roles in ADAptNYC 2030 Steering Committee, Access Council for ART NY and the Co-Chair of The Dwarf Artist Coalition of Little People of America. She has educated all school age youth about theater, disability culture and accessibility with her work at New Victory Theater, GirlBeHeard, EPIC Players and Queens Theater. Sofiya encourages the power of community, self-expression and storytelling. Her lessons are centered on themes of identity, and inclusive language and as a result, students build empathy for their friends and thinking through an anti-bullying lens. Sofiya believes engaging students about her disability and the use of “meaningful play” is the best way to bring up our future leaders of the world!! www.sofiyacheyenne.com

A magic show with comedy, juggling, audience interaction and featuring Roger Rabbit!

Like Spanish traditional Flamenco dancers and Flamenco guitarists did in the Middle Ages,, students move their bodies in fun, new ways to create triumph over any troubles. Miss Coco Flamenco’s fabulously funny flair for character education will have your students stomping out bullying “ultimate fast,” soaring with power and peace, making hilarious music together, grabbing their goals, and sharing each other’s creative awesomeness. All audience members are encouraged to get up and get moving to infectious dancing, hand claps, and Spanish guitar. All with a professor’s approach that’s so high-energy, even teachers and staff love to join in! Sharing SEL Strategies through Simple Body Movement, Fun Rhythm, and Triumphant Dance Social Awareness >> Stomping out bullying – Flamenco Feet (Taconeo) Responsible Decision-Making >> Choose both power and peace – Flamenco Falcon and Dove Arms (Brazeo) Relationship Skills >> Make music together – Flamenco-style Clapping (Palmas) Self-Awareness >> Be self-confident and grab your goals – Flamenco Bullfighter Moves (Postura) Self-Management >> Create beauty and share it with a neighbor – Flamenco Hands (Floreo)

John Petrelli is a motivational speaker, coach, and the author of Confessions of a Hollywood Trainer, an Amazon #1 new release. With over 30 years of experience, John has transformed the lives of Grammy Award- winning artists, Hollywood celebrities, and individuals from all walks of life. But John’s path to success was far from easy. In high school, John was cut from every sports team and barely graduated. Struggling with identity, self-worth, and unresolved anger, he lacked the communication skills and support system needed to thrive. A life-changing arrest just before college marked a personal low point—one that ultimately sparked his transformation. Rather than give in, John chose to rise. For the first time, he began to embrace his failures and coined his personal philosophy: “Perfecting the Art of Failure.” In 2021, John faced another defining moment: a sudden diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)—a rare autoimmune disease that left him temporarily paralyzed and in the ICU. As someone whose career was rooted in physical strength, John leaned entirely on mental resilience to fight his way back. Today, John is one of the most in-demand fitness professionals and motivational speakers, known for his raw authenticity and life-tested message: Failure isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of transformation. Perfecting the Art of Failure Hi, I’m John Petrelli and I teach people how to do the “Perfect the Art of Failure” in their lives and careers. I teach and inspire audiences to understand that failure isn’t an identity but merely the stepping stones to future success, because I believe when we reframe the way we approach life’s challenges we unlock our fullest potential. John shares how altering your approach to challenges can open doors to new possibilities and propel you towards success. Discover the three core principles – Changing our Perception, Structured dissection, and Unwavering drive – that help elite performers leverage the true abilities to achieve greater success in all areas of life. In this program, you’ll learn… 1. To Understand the Power of Perception: Explore how our perceptions shape your actions and ultimately determine your outcomes. 2. To Master the Art of Dissection: Learn how effectively dissecting your progress is crucial for identifying stepping stones towards success. 3. To Embrace Failure as a Stepping Stone: Discover the “Perfecting the Art of Failure” framework – three simple steps for turning challenges into valuable learning experiences. 4. To Unlock Your Full Potential with Drive: Learn strategies to overcome limitations and unleash your full potential for personal and professional growth. Program 2:Unlocking your personal Wellness Code As a professional fitness coach, working with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry— unlocking your personal wellness code is a crucial key to success. By applying his own Personal Wellness Code, John defied the odds and rebuilt his health from being paralyzed, proving that true wellness goes beyond just the body—it starts with the mind. John reveals how Understanding in detail what your personal Wellness needs are can unlock new opportunities, a new level of energy and confidence. Learn the three core Wellness Code Principles— Awareness, Identify, and Implementation — used by thousands of John’s clients to help maximize their health, wellness and potential. In this program, you’ll learn… 1. Empowerment & Personalization Encourages individuals to take ownership of their health rather than following a one size fits all approach. Encourages experimentation and awareness by teaching them a DATA DRIVEN approach to their health rather than blindly following trends or generalized health advice. Empowers you to discover what truly works for their body in terms of energy, sleep, exercise, and overall health. 2. Preventing Missed Potential Learn how to recognize your body’s signals before they turn into burnout or health issues. Uncover the daily habits that quietly drain your energy and how to replace them with supportive habits. Understand how stress impacts your performance and what you can do to shift that. 3. Emotional & Motivational The audience leaves understanding that they likely have untapped potential and gives them the motivational keys to Unlock their OWN “Wellness Code.”

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.

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.

The NYC based dance crew provides a 30 minute non-stop, interactive showcase of their high energy dance choreography that engages and entertains the students. There is a 15 minute lecture period afterwards which discusses spotting and stopping bullying, respecting yourself and others, taking responsibility for your actions and leading a positive life. Anything is possible with hard work, an education and focusing on what you can bring to this world that no one else can.

The Wild Center, located in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate NY, spans 115 acres and offers visitors a variety of experiences. Named the 2024 #1 science museum in the country by USA Today readers, The Wild Center’s mission is to ignite an enduring passion for nature that inspires action to ensure a thriving natural world. Highlights include a vast trail system, treetop adventures on Wild Walk, Raquette River Roll interactive ball runs, Forest Music, Birdly Virtual Reality, art installations and 54,000 square feet of indoor exhibit space with interactives in Planet Adirondack and Climate Solutions, all year long. The Wild Center offers on-site and virtual field trips for students, camps, scout groups, and youth groups. The Wild Center blends natural history, science, technology, and art into a unique experience that builds upon classroom learning and lifelong memories. Experiences can be a Virtual Field Trip, an onsite Wild Classroom Workshop lead by Wild Center staff, and/or an onsite Self-Guided Experience. The Wild Center’s programs are experiential, student-driven, and designed to support New York State Educational Standards while engaging students in hands-on, interactive learning experiences. Please contact the School Programs Coordinator at schoolprograms@wildcenter.org, call us at (518) 359-7800 x 123, or visit our website at www.wildcenter.org/schoolprograms for more information and/or to schedule a field trip.

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.