Tom Sugar is a recently retired music educator from Long Island, New York with thirty-five years of public school teaching and administrative experience. He has continued his career as a BOCES Arts in Education performer. Over the years, he has often written music for specific occasions and special events, and has also published pieces for the Elementary Chorus, all while adhering to a mission of melody and message. His career in composition evolved from the shared curriculum, with classroom demonstrations of the songwriting process for his students and the subsequent school-wide, choral group, and festival performances of the completed works. To go along with his proven Brotherhood/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Earth Day/Ecology workshop/performance events, he has a brand-new offering supporting the "Leader in Me" leadership program. This primary level character education program supporting the Leader in Me curriculum entitled, "The 7 Happy Healthy Habits Workshop/Performance Program," will be available for the first time during the 2026-27 academic school year. The program features short storytelling and seven integrated sing-a-long original songs to highlight and reinforce the seven values and principles embodied in the Leader in Me leadership and life skills program. This day-long musical workshop/performance event is crafted to actively involve the early primary grades (PreK-3rd) and to help supplement the Sean Covey bestselling book for elementary students, "The 7 Habits of Happy Kids." If your students have been introduced to this wonderful resource, or the associated curriculum video shorts, this communal assembly event can be just the thing to further motivate and inspire your school community, though the songs will stand alone to create a meaningful celebration of the curriculum. The Workshop Day will typically consist of morning sessions with grade level/large groups where students will be introduced to, and taught the catchy, easy to learn call and response song material, followed by an afternoon Performance/Participation Assembly program. Topical artwork from your school will be included in the presentation if provided via email in .jpeg format labeled with student first names at least two weeks prior to the event. As a Leader in Me school community, you can use this extended learning component any time throughout the school year or to kick-off or anchor your empowerment program as part of an introduction or year-end culminating celebration

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 Children’s Food Lab brings food and nutrition education to schools throughout the NYC and Mid-Hudson region. The Children’s Food Lab (CFL) offers food arts and sciences discovery labs, where curious minds of all ages can connect to the transformative power of food — food that is integral to the health of their bodies, minds, communities, and environment. CFL labs are hands-on, multi-sensory with a STEAM-based approached. They incorporate science, technology, math, nutrition, social studies, ELA, and the arts whenever possible. Students learn the incredible stories behind ingredients they eat all the time, foods like corn, wheat, milk, eggs, herbs, oats, vegetables, spices, cacao, and on. Students explore how food is grown, processed, and prepared, as well as how their food choices affect the health of their bodies and environment. The context and backstory of each ingredient creates a deeper connection between students and their food – a connection that will last a lifetime and shape the course of a child’s health and well-being.

Kevin Kurtz is an award-winning nonfiction children's author (www.kevkurtz.com) of over 25 books for kids grades kindergarten to middle school about science, nature, and technology. Kevin can provide up to five 45-minute presentations during an all day school visit. He can do different presentations for each grade level. For assembly programs, Kevin can read and discuss one of his books or present highlights from more than one book. The highlights can be focused on specific science curriculum topics, on the process of writing nonfiction, or be a grade level-appropriate “greatest hits” selection from my books (You can see the list of highlight topics here: http://www.kevkurtz.com/school-visits.) The book reading and highlights presentations will also include sections on how Kevin became a children’s author, the process he uses to write nonfiction, and a Q&A session at the end. Kevin can also do writing workshops for smaller groups with a maximum of 30 students per program. Workshops are for grades 3 and up. Kevin will lead students through the process of researching, writing, and editing nonfiction and work as a group to produce informational texts. Writing workshops can be extended to a week-long residency where Kevin will lead groups of students through the steps of creating nonfiction texts in more detail.

A New York actress with decades of experience in film (the "Uncle Buck" mom), TV, Broadway and Off-Broadway, I have also taught at over 170 colleges and high schools. Workshops include: Exploring Intention through American Sign Language, Making Your Monologue HOT!, Acting on Camera, Acting for Singers: What's Behind the Words?, Cold Reading: Don't Panic!, Mining the Hidden Impulses: Creating Your Own Work (a writing workshop.) In addition, my Off-Broadway solo show "TEA FOR THREE: Lady Bird, Pat & Betty" is available.

The Science Chef offers STEM education with or without a cooking/food based option! Providing hands on workshops, both in person or virtual with materials delivered, provides an engaging activity for your students. Our workshops are also standard appropriate, and we can provide the list of standards each workshop can help meet. Each workshop comes with a take home project, associated with the theme of the chosen workshop. The non-food workshops are $199 per one hour workshop, up to 20 participants. Our food based workshops are 75-90 minutes depending upon the theme, and the class is mostly the science based workshop, with a food based activity based on the workshop's theme. For example, our Volcanos and The Rock Cycle workshop is all science, and the students prepare lava cakes at the end to take home and microwave. The cost is $229 for up to 10 participants, and includes both the science take home, and the food take home per student. Our assemblies are not hands-on, but provide the WOW to bring some educational fun to your students! Intended for groups of students up to 100, we have several different options to choose from, and are always happy to provide a recommendation based on your student's ages and the space you provide us. Please note: scheduling with me is something that should be done in advance. I am a full time anatomy & physiology professor, and The Science Chef programming fits around my classes and breaks. Contacting me via e-mail or text is the best option, as I will not answer a phone call during any classes, whether the college or The Science Chef! :)

Our mission at BIG INK is to encourage appreciation for woodblock printmaking: one impression at a time. In 2012, Lyell Catongguay founded BIG INK to provide woodblock printmaking workshop opportunities for people of all skill levels. As a result, thousands of individuals have learned how to carve wood by following Castonguay’s online master class, and numerous community members have attended BIG INK’s workshops to witness the spectacle of large-scale woodblock printing. With its community-driven and public art education model, BIG INK is committed to ensuring a promising future for printmaking. Hire BIG INK for a workshop at your school. We’ll travel to your location and set up The Big Tuna, our custom-designed giant mobile printing press. Does your group have limited woodblock carving experience? That is okay. We’ll be your guide!

We offer hands-on learning experiences for all levels and ages in the creation of woven three dimensional baskets, lanterns, living structures and sculpture.

The Parmesan Pig Book Series is a dynamic and engaging children's picture book series designed to inspire imagination, creativity, and a love for reading in young learners. Each book in the series features Parmesan Pig alongside her charmingly named food-animal friends, whose playful and inventive names add an extra layer of fun to their adventures. These stories not only entertain but also introduce important life lessons, such as friendship, problem-solving, and the value of perseverance. The author visits goes beyond storytelling by offering interactive and follow-up activities. Children/Students engage in character exploration activities, where they experience the creative journey of developing character illustrations—from initial sketches to the final artwork. Each session concludes with the exciting task of inventing new character names that could seamlessly join the series. These activities are designed to enhance literacy, boost creative expression, and build confidence in young readers. The Parmesan Pig Book Series is ideal for elementary school students and can be tailored to fit various educational settings, including classrooms, libraries, and after-school programs. By bringing these stories to life through interactive sessions, I aim to foster a deeper connection with reading and learning, making the educational experience both enjoyable and impactful. Key Features: 1) Interactive Storytelling: Bringing the adventures of Parmesan Pig and friends to life through engaging readings and discussions. 2) Creative Interaction: Activities that encourage children to explore their creativity and express themselves. 2) Educational Enrichment: Each session is designed to align with educational standards, promoting literacy, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning. 4) Flexible Format: The program can be adapted to fit the needs of different age groups and educational settings, ensuring a customized experience for each school. Join Parmesan Pig and her friends on a journey of creativity and learning that will leave a lasting impact on young minds!

“Stand Up for Your Greatness!” In this inspirational program, Ed Gerety shares with his audience specific strategies, principles, and techniques to be resilient, embrace change, achieve goals, and step up as a leader. The social and emotional needs of students today are more important than ever. Ed delivers a powerful message that connects with the hearts and minds of his audience. He reminds students of the importance of taking care of themselves, taking care of one another, standing up for their greatness, and for the greatness of others. Areas of Focus in this assembly program include: • The power of respect and responsibility • The impact and consequences of our choices and decisions • The issues of bullying and peer pressure • Appreciation for our abilities and the people in our life • The courage to believe in oneself • The power we have to reach out and make a difference Ed speaks in the education industry specifically at middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities, and conferences. His primary audiences include students, teachers, administrators, coaches, parents, and student-athletes. For 30 years Ed has spoken on character education topics that build and support a positive and inclusive school climate. His expertise is in teaching the skills that teens and young adults need to develop to become leaders in school and in life. Ed’s longevity as a paid-professional speaker is rooted in the excellence he brings to the platform, the relationships he forms with his clients, and the results produced in positive outcomes measured by schools. Clients say that there is authenticity and vulnerability in his presentations that distinguishes him from other speakers.

EarthBeat Music presents West African Drum-Dance-Sing Presentations, Workshops and Residencies! Our programs enhance mental health and well-being, foster personal development and encourage creative expressiveness through the powerful, transformative practices of drumming, movement, and singing. We share West African traditional music, which includes diving into the rich history, culture and language, to create more resilient and empathetic communities. We strive to connect students to the Master Musicians - our mentors - from West Africa, as well as other regional visual and dance artists to create a WHOLE experience.

CEPA (Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Art) promotes photographic and related media artists of all levels, supporting the arts community through exhibitions, education, and critical public access to image-making resources. CEPA provides individuals, schools, and nonprofits with workshops, classes, and community spaces that are accessible to all ages, abilities, and incomes.