Author visit with Stephen Swinburne Hello! It is my pleasure to recommend author Stephen Swinburne for an author visit to your school. Trust me, you will be so pleased that you have. I have been booking authors for the past 20 years in my career as a librarian and can honestly say that Steve is one of the most engaging authors that you will ever book. All of my teachers love his visits and compare all other authors to Steve. Students will be so enthralled in his session and will not want to leave. If I financially could book Steve for my school every year, I would. There are five other elementary schools in my district and they all feel the same way. I know from experience that some authors are fabulous writers but unfortunately lacking in their presentations - Steve is not one of them. Booking Steve for your school is a win for you - your staff will love him. If you have any questions, please feel free contact me. Best wishes and enjoy your visit with Steve! Sincerely, Leslie Balzano lbalzano@trumbullps.org Teacher-Librarian Middlebrook Elementary School 220 Middlebrooks Avenue Trumbull, CT 06611

Award-winning music producer Brent Daniels uses the latest technology to sculpt sound and create music for many of the movie and TV trailers your students see everyday, including Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Disney’s A Wrinkle In Time and Star Wars: The Bad Batch. His online Virtual Trailer Music workshops show K-12 students how their everyday devices are used by professionals to create the music and sounds they love, and how they can do it too. How many of your students could graduate to creative careers? Brent’s workshops illuminate the possibilities, more numerous than ever before.

Our dynamic programming includes three unforgettable, interactive assemblies as well as a lifesaving skills workshop series M.A.C.H.O. Assembly – My Actions Can Help Others A high-energy kindness and empathy assembly that inspires students to be everyday superheroes by showing compassion and helping others. Strength of Body, Strength of Mind A motivational fitness and wellness assembly that promotes strength of body and mind through real-life story of former Mr. America, Dan Lurie told by his grandson. Water Safety Education Assembly An engaging and informative program that teaches kids how to stay safe in oceans, pools, and lakes, featuring the popular “Dress Like a Lifeguard” relay. Additionally, we offer our hands on Life-Saving Skills Workshop Series for grades 3 and up, where students learn: Hands-Only CPR (Adult, Child, and Infant) Heimlich Maneuver (Adult, Child, and Infant) Water Safety or Allergy Awareness

Fun and learning go hand-in-hand when you book a fall field trip to Ellms Family Farm. Pick pumpkins, explore a maze, attend the educational “chicken show”, and so much more. Students from pre-k and elementary school, all the way through sixth grade, enjoy the mix of agricultural learning experiences and old-fashioned barnyard fun.

Digilangua is a digital platform for readers (short novels) written in accessible language expressly for language learners. We currently have an actively growing library of more than 170 books in five different languages: English, German, Italian, French and Spanish, the majority of which also have audio to accompany the ebooks. Founded by two world language teachers and authors of comprehensible novels, the LMS-similar site boasts access for up to 180 students per teacher login, the ability for teachers to monitor student reading progress, create auto-graded comprehension questions, select the books available to different classes, as well as create assignments for students, all within the platform.

Author, speaker, and youth mover, Brandon Lee White has motivated roughly half a million youth in 48 states over the past 15 years. He helps students take ownership of living a better life from the inside out. He teaches character education, leadership, mental health, anti-bullying, and more. Born unable to speak, Brandon shares his journey from outcast to school president, and in some speeches, he shares his story about his 6-year battle with depression and being an “unmotivated motivational speaker.” Brandon has been seen on TLC, Discovery Health, Fit TV, and TEDx. 1. Super Students (45 min speech)(Grades K-2, 3-5) Everyone loves superheroes, but students don’t know how to apply that to their lives. Super Students teaches students that you don’t need super powers to be a Super Student, just super choices. Brandon teaches how to be courageous and have character regarding bullying, leadership, mental health and making positive/healthy choices. Lots of interaction, humor, and impact! Your entire school and even the teachers will love this presentation! 2. Own It! (45 min speech)(Grades 3-12) Ownership starts with having a clear vision of who you are, what you want, and how hard you’re willing to work. Brandon shares his struggles including mental health and bullying, and then points to the leaders and decisions that turned it all around. Expect lots of funny crowd interaction, thought-provoking examples, moving stories, and a powerful spoken word presentation. Students leave with a new sense of ownership in life and leadership and the motivation to make it happen. 3. Know Your Line (45 min speech)(Grades 4-12) Substance abuse can destroy potential. Goals, dreams, and lives can be ruined through addiction, accidents, and destructive choices. Brandon presents this topic with a balance of fun and seriousness while helping them know their line in which they won’t cross 4. Let It Move (45-60 min interactive workshop)(Grades 4-12) Participants learn leadership through ballroom dance. Positive communication, risk-taking, teamwork, goal-setting, and discipline are all covered in a way that will stick in your memory. It’s a fun and educational way to “break the ice” and get youth moving. This workshop can include total crowd participation or select volunteers depending upon request and space availability. (Maximum occupancy contingent upon space and sound equipment)

I offer two one-person plays (one about Langston Hughes the other about Dr. King) and one poetry reading from my award-winning poetry collection Boneyarn, the only book of poems about slavery in New York City, where the oldest and largest slave cemetery in the United States is located. In conjunction with any of the above presentations, I have thematically related writing workshops so students can have their own creative experience to go along with my presentations. Below are descriptions of the three shows. I also give talks about the Harlem Renaissance, Jazz Trumpeter Louis Armstrong, and Tuskegee Airman Harry Stewart Jr, who was part of the first group of African-American military pilots who fought in World War II. Below are descriptions of the Langston Hughes, Dr. King and Boneyarn presentations. DAVID MILLS PRESENTATIONS 1) The Dreamweaver: Langston Hughes Performance and Creative Writing Workshop What better way to celebrate Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes—affectionately known as “Shakespeare in Harlem”—than to have students see a dramatic 45-minute presentation about Langston Hughes. Actor David Mills, (whose Hughes show was voted the #4 young-adult show in the nation by The American Library Association) does just that. He takes students on a theatrical odyssey of Hughes’ life spanning six decades from his humble Missouri childhood to his days living in Harlem as an adult. Mr. Mills also captures Hughes’ world travels and writing of his classic poems, such as “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” “Mother to Son,” “I, Too,” “Montage of a Dream Deferred” and “Madam Alberta K.” While playing black and white, young, old, and male and female characters, Mr. Mills captures Hughes’ unending love for Harlem—with its foibles and fantasies, bruises and beauty. Mr. Mills show also explores how Hughes wrote nearly 50 plays. A Q&A would follow the presentation. Mr. Mills could also conduct a writing workshop using a Hughes blues poem as a model. 2) Dare to Dream: Dr. King Performance and Creative Writing Workshop In a 45-minute, dramatic presentation for an auditorium of students and teachers, actor David Mills would take the audience on an engaging, historic journey, where they witness Dr. King go from a young preacher (with uncertainties about Civil Rights during the Montgomery Bus Boycott) into the nationally-recognized figure he became during the 1963 March on Washington. Mr. Mills’ stirring performance looks at Dr. King as both the public figure and private man. Be roused, be inspired, be transported by “Dare to Dream,” Mr. Mills’ theatrical tribute to Dr. King. A Q&A would follow the performance. Mr. Mills has worked as a teaching artist and performer for over 20 years in schools, universities, and senior centers. So, in conjunction with the performance Mr. Mills can also lead a 45-minute creative writing workshop, in a smaller classroom setting, using Dr. King’s iconic “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” as a writing prompt. This workshop will get students to write poems in the forms of letters that relate to their lives. Talking to the Bones: Poetry reading about slavery in New York City and Creative Writing Workshop. Award-winning-poet David Mills would read from his collection, Boneyarn, winner of the North American Book Award and the only poetry collection about slavery in New York City, where the oldest and largest slave cemetery in the United States is located. Mr. Mills would conduct a 45-minute reading to an auditorium and use projected visuals to give attendees a sense of 17th-19th century New York. Mr. Mills would discuss the research and writing process that went into creating this groundbreaking book, where he weds little-known colonial history and poetry. What lessons can be learned from coupling these two disciplines. The reading would also be followed by a Q&A. Mr. Mills has worked as a teaching artist and performer for over 20 years in schools. Therefore, in conjunction with the reading, Mr. Mills can lead a 45-minute creative writing workshop that uses a question-and-answer form from his book Boneyarn to get students to write their own poems reflecting on slavery in New York City.

Social studies and non-fiction ELA topics brought to life through music. Themes include Colonial America, Native Americans of NY State, Westward Expansion and the Gold Rush, World Cultures and Communities, The Erie Canal, Immigration to America and more. Programs are presented in-person as well as virtually.

You Inc provides engaging programming for K-12 to encourage students to develop good money habits and growth mindsets about money early on and continuously throughout their development. Topics related to money and personal finance should be introduced to students at each grade level. Just as math and reading have several different facets and sub topics for children to master from kindergarten to 12th grade and beyond, personal finance also has its own nuances and categories that can and should be mastered early in a child's development and continue to evolve into more complex topics and subtopics as children grow and develop into young adults. By doing so, we develop a generation of financially secure adults who experience better financial outcomes due to making better financial decisions. Our workshops help students understand the basics of earning, saving, budgeting, and giving back. For younger children, we use interactive activities and storytelling to introduce financial concepts in a fun and relatable way, laying the groundwork for good habits and smart decision-making. For older students, we dive deeper, covering topics such as goal-setting, smart spending, credit, and pathways to building wealth—all tailored to prepare them for the responsibilities of adulthood. We also emphasize the importance of financial independence and provide students with tools to break free from cycles of financial instability that they may see in their communities. Our culturally competent approach ensures that all students see themselves reflected in the material, and we prioritize empathy, understanding, and real-life application in a way that fosters financial inclusion for all. Our team is certified in financial education from the National Financial Educators Council with over a decade of experience teaching financial literacy across New York State. We are also a certified NYS Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE). Our goal is to help K-12 students gain essential life skills and grow up feeling confident and capable in managing their financial lives. Let's inspire a generation of students who are not only financially aware but also equipped to pursue their dreams with a strong, sustainable financial foundation. In addition to k-12 programs, we offer Family Finance Programs for the entire family unit, including parents and caregivers. These one day programs can take place in the evening and students attend with their parents/guardians and two separate workshops take place simultaneously, equipping the family ecosystem to elevate their money conversations in the home, and providing tools and strategies to help parents optimize their family finances while nurturing a culture of healthy financial habits in the home.

Our virtual school author talk program brings the magic of stories to inspire, educate, and connect with students in the classroom. Whether it's the laughter from a funny tale, the curiosity kindled by a mystery, or the wonder of discovering new worlds, each BookBreak virtual author talk is designed to spark a love of reading and enhance literacy. Our innovative platform connects students with renowned authors virtually, allowing schools to participate who would not normally be able to afford the speaking fees of bestselling authors. With BookBreak, you can offer your students the excitement and inspiration of a live author event, empowering them to thrive as readers and writers. With over 2,000 subscribing schools and counting, our goal is to embed author talks as an integrated component of student learning. By seamlessly integrating these virtual author sessions into your curriculum, you’ll ignite a fire for reading, kindle a passion for writing, and captivate even the most reluctant readers. These interactive experiences are more than just talks—they’re a catalyst for transforming student motivation and cultivating a vibrant school-wide culture of reading. Use our curriculum aligned virtual author talks and included pre- and post- activities and watch as your students’ enthusiasm soars and their love for literature flourishes!

I am a visual fiber artist based in the Catskill Mountains who spent the last three school years as a visiting artist for 8th graders at Van Antwerp and Iroquois Middle Schools in Niskayuna working with art teachers Katherine Chwazik, Alyssa LaPatra, and Dana Sela. I visited students for two days per quarter (different groups each quarter and averaging around 75 students per day). I collaborated with the schools prior to my arrival to collect recycled fabrics from quilting fabric to second hand clothing, which were the basis of a recycled fabric collage project. My visits began with a brief power point lecture about my practice working with fibers in needlepoint, chair weaving, and fabric collage to set the stage. Each year, the teachers I worked with wanted the project to have a different focus based on the gaps they thought it could fill in the curriculum. The fabric projects were: landscapes ('21-'22), merit medals ('22-'23), and yarn/fabric abstract works based on music ('23-'24). The projects allowed students to express their individuality through choosing subjects that meant something personal to them, whether that be a landscape of their hike in the Adirondacks, or creating abstract shapes based on their love for Taylor Swift. As a fiber artist, this project does not fit neatly into the Visual Arts categories listed, and therefore I think provided kids with an unusual opportunity to explore an unorthodox medium for a public classroom setting. This project is flexible in terms of subject and I can accommodate the lesson plan for a wide age range of kids, from 6th grade to 12th grade.

The Story Ship takes audiences on a one-of-a-kind interactive adventure. Each performance blends comedy, theater, magic, music, robots, animation, and immersive video to create an unforgettable experience for kids. Students don’t just watch—they actively participate by solving puzzles, helping with magic tricks, dancing to upbeat music, and interacting with animated characters throughout the story. With a giant video screen and incredible props, every show feels like stepping into a larger-than-life world. We currently offer five exciting programs: Diggery Digger’s Dino Adventure (Science) The Great Pirate Race (Math) Aliens Alive! (STEAM) Super Me! (Anti-Bullying) The Rainbow Thief (Art)