Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary (keynote speaker) has charmed, inspired, delighted, and just plain entertained generations of audiences since Peter, Paul and Mary first sang their way into the national consciousness in the early 1960s.

Peter’s gift for songwriting has produced some of the most moving songs Peter, Paul & Mary recorded including, in addition to "Puff”,  “Day is Done", "Light One Candle" and "The Great Mandala”.

During the last decade, Peter has devoted himself primarily to the work of heading Operation Respect (OR), an educational non-profit he founded. OR is dedicated to assuring children and youth a caring, safe and respectful climate of learning where students’ academic, social and emotional development can take place in a welcoming, environment, conducive to learning. OR disseminates a classroom-based program called “Don’t Laugh At Me”, free, through the generosity of the Mc-Graw Hill Companies, that has been utilized in a variety of ways, frequently in conjunction with other similar programs, by an estimated 22,000 schools in the United States, Hong Kong, Croatia, Canada and elsewhere.

Don’t Laugh At Me (DLAM) is designed to help establish a school and classroom climate that encourages acceptance of differences, is free of bullying, ridicule and violence of all sorts, emotional and physical. The program incorporates music that reaches adults and children, alike, opening their hearts and inviting discussions that lead to a greater sense of community and healthy deliberation. OR has distributed more than 160,000 copies of DLAM to educators and is available, free, through www.operationrespect.org.

The United States House of Representatives honored Operation Respect with a unanimous vote of commendation after only four years of its existence. Peter has received two honorary doctorates from San Francisco State University and  National  Lewis University for his work in educational advocacy, and Peter’s  mother was a New York City English, Speech and Drama teacher for close to 30 years at Julia Richmond High School.

Bobby Norfolk

Tricksters and Heroes; Timeless Lessons.

Anansi the Spider, Coyote, Rabbit, and Monkey are "Tricksters", archetypal characters who appear in the myths of many different cultures. Through psychologist Carl Jung’s research, we know that they represent that part of the human personality that arises in us from time to time. This workshop will take you on a journey of these ancient global stories, told only as Bobby can tell them. You will then explore the stories to discover the universal character traits within: teamwork and cooperation, respect, honesty, courtesy, and responsibility.  Through a deeper understanding of the stories, you will be empowered to share them with your students through the reading or telling, and/ or hearing them on audio-cd.

Bio:

Three-Time Emmy Award Winning Storyteller, Children's Author and Parents’ Choice Honoree!
 
Bobby Norfolk is a definite crowd-pleaser! His innate ability to read and connect with audiences of all ages makes him one of the country’s premier storytellers. Using dynamic movement and vocal effects, he creates vibrant characters who come to life through imaginative, creative story. His living history programs highlight the African-American experience, while his toe-tapping musical shows feature song and live musicians. Through storytelling, Bobby promotes character education traits, cultural diversity and literacy. He inspires and motivates kids and is a great role model and mentor. “I tell stories to see the happiness and joy that can be shared through the oral tradition. No fancy electronics, just teller and listener.” Bobby began his career as a stand-up comedian and actor while working at the Gateway Arch as a Park Ranger. In 1979, Bobby appeared at the St. Louis Storytelling Festival and through storytelling was able to combine his theater and comedy background to become a “story-performer.” A three time Emmy winning host of the CBS TV show “Gator Tales”, Bobby was recently honored nationally in October 2009 with the Circle of Excellence Award, recognizing master storytellers who set the standard of excellence and commitment to their craft. This prestigious award is given to artists for exceptional commitment and exemplary contributions to the art of storytelling. His CD’s have won ten Parents Choice Gold Awards and a first prize from Foreword Magazine. He has co-authored eight award winning children’s books, available through August House. He also hosted the Emmy nominated series “Children’s Theater at Bobby’s House.” Bobby travels both nationally and internationally presenting performances, keynotes, and workshops. A past member of the Board of Directors for the National Storytelling Network, he currently serves on the St. Louis Storytelling Festival Advisory Council and is on the roaster with Springboard of St. Louis.

Marvin Berkowitz

Understanding Effective Character Education

Character education is often misunderstood, partly because it is a broad concept and partly because few have been taught what it truly is. There is, however, much known about effective character education. This presentation will explain character, character development, and how to promote it in schools.

Bio:

Dr. Marvin W. Berkowitz is the inaugural Sanford N. McDonnell Endowed Professor of Character Education and Co-Director of the Center for Character and Citizenship at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  In 1999 he was the inaugural Ambassador H.H. Coors Professor of Character Development at the US Air Force Academy.  He served as Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Ethics Studies at Marquette University.  He was also founder and Associate Director of the Center for Addiction and Behavioral Health Research in Milwaukee.

Born in Queens NY in 1950, he earned his BA degree with honors in psychology from the State University of NY at Buffalo in 1972.  He earned his Ph.D. in Life-span Developmental Psychology at Wayne State University in 1977.  He served as a Research Associate at the Center for Moral Development and Education at Harvard University 1977-79.  He has served as a Visiting Professor at the Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development and Education in Berlin (1987-8) and as a Visiting Scholar for the Gordon Cook Foundation in Scotland (1995).  

His research interests are character education, moral development, and risk-taking.  He is author of Parenting for good (2005), editor of Moral education: Theory and application (1985) and Peer conflict and psychological growth (1985), and author of more than 90 book chapters, monographs, and journal articles.  He is founding co-editor of the Journal for Research in Character Education.  He has also served on many Boards including the Character Education Partnership and the Association for Moral Education.  He has served as Principal Investigator of numerous grants from, among other sources, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, US Department of Education, and the John Templeton Foundation.

Dr. Berkowitz was named "Outstanding Young Educator of 1983" by the Milwaukee Jaycees, was cited as one of Milwaukee’s "87 Most Interesting People" in Milwaukee magazine (1987), named “Best University Professor” in a 1998 readers’ poll of the Shepherd’s Express, served as Ethicist in Residence at the University of South Florida (2002), received the International Leadership Network “Applause Award” (2004), was named Educator of the Year by the St. Louis Association of Secondary School Principals (2005), was an inaugural recipient of the Bill Porzukowiak Character Award from the Belleville (IL) 118 School District (2005), received the Sanford  N. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award from the Character Education Partnership (2006), and in 2008 received the first Exemplary Partner Award from the Charmm’d Foundation.

He is co-founder of ComedySportz, a nationally franchised improvisational comedy show, and has co-written the play “Chuck, Bob, and Louie” which won best of show at the 1994 Milwaukee Festival of Ten Minute Plays.  For five years he was author of a weekly newspaper column on parenting for character published in the Topeka (KS) Capitol-Journal. He is also a two time Missouri State Senior Division Soccer gold medalist (2006, 2007).  He has been married to Judith Gewanter Berkowitz for over 35 years and has one son, Daniel William Berkowitz (born 9/21/86).

University of Missouri-St. Louis, 402 Marillac Hall, One University Blvd., St. Louis, MO  63121

Jessica Hentoff of Circus Harmony

Circus Teaches the Art of Life

Say the word “circus” and children’s eyes light up. Circus may well be the ultimate arts integration tool. Circus can be used to teach math, science, history, geography and language arts. While children learn to flip, fly and juggle, they also learn important life skills like focus, persistence and teamwork. Practicing circus skills increases fitness, visual tracking and fine motor abilities. Circus work cultivates character traits like patience, poise and tolerance. Learning circus with others teaches trust, responsibility and cooperation.  Come see for yourself how "circus teaches the art of life.” Join ringmistress Jessica Hentoff and some of her students from Circus Harmony, St. Louis’ only circus school. Try some circus skills. Run away and join the circus–at least for the time of this workshop! 

Bio:

Jessica Hentoff is the artistic/executive director of Circus Harmony, St. Louis’ only circus school and social circus program. Circus school means they teach a wide variety of circus arts to students of all ages and social circus means they use circus arts to motivate social change. Circus Harmony is located inside of St. Louis’ iconoclastic City Museum and also provides classes at numerous outreach locations throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Circus Harmony ‘teaches the art of life through circus education.” As students learn to flip, fly and juggle, they also learn important life skills like focus, persistence and teamwork and develop positive character traits like trust, responsibility and confidence. This unique arts education, youth development program is an excellent example of character education and arts integration in action.

Ms. Hentoff has been involved in circus arts since 1973. She has toured with numerous circuses throughout the United States and Canada performing as an aerialist, clown, juggler, bareback-rider, small animal trainer and fire-eater. Jessica has taught circus skills to children and adults of all ages and levels for over thirty years (including deaf children, adolescents with Downs Syndrome and children of all labels---ADD, BD, LD, etc.).  
   
In 2009, Ms Hentoff was named both St. Louis Arts Innovator of the Year and Outstanding Arts Educator of the Year. In addition, she was invited to Monte Carlo to address the combined symposium of the World Circus Federation and the European Circus Association on the subject of Social Circus. Jessica serves on both the Social Circus Task Force and Advisory Board of the American Youth Circus Organization as well as serving on Circus Fans Association of America’s Youth Circus Committee. She has been teaching and performing circus arts for over 30 years.
 
Jessica Hentoff's remarkable vision and use of circus arts to build character and community has brought about ground-breaking and bridge-building programs like Circus Salaam Shalom, Far East Meets Midwest and Peace Through Pyramids.  These trademarks of Circus Harmony are the embodiment of the organization's mission to help children "defy gravity, soar with confidence and leap over social barriers, all at the same time".

Lindsay Obermeyer

Making a Better World, One Loop at a Time

Loop by loop your students can make their world a better place. Knitting is an art form used for centuries to bring comfort to others. During the American Revolution, knitters made socks, vests, hats and more for their men on the front line. Today, opportunities for charity knitting abound. The Red Thread Project® is one of many such opportunities, but one which focuses as much on the creative act as on the charitable end.  Every participant will begin a hat, investigate color and texture, and learn how knitting may be integrated across the curriculum.

Bio:

Lindsay Obermeyer employs the history and metaphors surrounding textile practices to study issues as diverse as environmentalism, medical ethics and gender. Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States and internationally at venues including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MA), the Milwaukee Art Museum (WI), the Museum of Arts and Design (NY), and Centro Colombo Americano (Columbia). Books and media coverage featuring her work include ABC, PBS, Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, American Craft, Fiberarts, and Reinventing Textiles: Gender and Identity. Her work is in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MA), The Swedish State Art Council (Stockholm, Sweden), Barnes-Jewish Hospital (MO), and the Geneva Lutheran Church (Switzerland) among others.

In the making of her community-based artwork, The Red Thread Project®, Obermeyer has worked with thousands of knitters from around the world. She views her role as an artist to be synonymous with that of an educator and as such has always included teaching as part of her art practice. She has taught at National-Louis University, Northern Illinois University, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, at the Chicago Public Schools among others. She is currently the visual arts researcher for the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs’ website Chicago Artists Resource and is a project designer for Lark Books. Her knitted accessories may be found on her Etsy shop Enjolive. She has earned a BFA and MFA in textiles and an MAT in elementary education. Born in St. Louis, MO, she currently resides in Chicago.

www.lbostudio.com
www.theredthreadproject.com

Pam Daresta

The Art of Character

Inspired by classic works, students will create comic characters that speak to real school character education issues as well as literacy learning. An Aesop’ fable, a Shel Silverstein poem, or a teacher-selected classic will be the point of entry for a student-created comic, with characters and settings from their lives. The comics may address bullying or playground etiquette, peer pressure, violence, etc. Selected student comics, enlarged into posters or included in school newsletters, may be used in school character education campaigns. “The characters will be changed to protect the innocent!”

Bio:

Pam Beagle-Daresta is a teaching visual artist, a graduate of Ringling School of Art.  She has developed and taught curriculum-integrated children’s art programs for art centers and schools K- 8th. She is affiliated with the Georgia Council for the Arts, Fulton County Arts Council, South Carolina Arts Commission, Springboard of St. Louis and Young Audiences of Atlanta, Inc, Artist in Education Rosters, and The High Museum of Art’s “I See Literacy” program roster.

She has been the featured professional development instructor for the Cobb County School System art teachers for the past 5 years and presented professional development programming for, Macon Arts Council, and the Carlos Museum, Emory University.  Her teaching credentials include; DBAE from the Southeast Center for Education in the Arts, Art Therapy from the Georgia Council on Child Abuse; “Talents Unlimited”, Bernstein Artful Learning training.
    
Pam's residencies include curriculum integrated printmaking, papermaking, book arts, murals, and collaborative sculpture permanent and installation.  A middle school residency Georgia History mural was created for US Senator Johnny Isakson’s Washington office. She has just finished two collaborative residency sculpture projects, with the Trinity School and the Atlanta Girls School.
    
Pam's artwork has been featured in several solo exhibits; she also exhibits with the Atlanta Printmakers Studio. She practices nontoxic art making as a printmaker and teacher.

Mindy Bier and Billy Rucker on YEA!

Recognizing the Tricking Point

This interactive workshop will present UMSL’s Center for Character and Citizenship’s Youth Empowerment in Action (YEA!) Program. YEA! includes a series of positive youth development projects that integrate media education, character development, and civic engagement to enhance the health and well-being of youth and their communities. This presentation will include fun classroom activities that explore the ways in which corporate marketers and commercial media encourage students to engage in unhealthy, irresponsible behavior. Examples of the creative ways students and teachers have used the media arts to expose social injustice and promote healthy behavior will be provided.

Bio:

Melinda C. Bier, Research Scientist, Division of Education Psychology and Evaluation, College of Education, University of Missouri, St. Louis has conducted a comprehensive and interdisciplinary review of the scientific literature supporting the development of character in school age students with Marvin W. Berkowitz, Sanford N. McDonnell Professor of Character Education. Prior to her current position, Bier was a program officer with the James S. McDonnell Foundation - a private philanthropy that specialized in scientific field building. Bier’s most recent work has focused on the development and implementation of the Youth Empowerment in Action model that combines academic curriculum, media literacy and production skills, and civic engagement experience as protective factors in the lives of youth. This research-based multi-component approach intends to build self and collective efficacy for health outcomes in K-12 administrators, teachers and students. In this work students use the media arts to document, inform, and influence peers, family, and community members to support healthy behavior and environments. She has published on the topics of Character Education, ethical concerns in educational research, and Internet use by underserved populations. She teaches graduate courses in the diffusion of educational innovations.

Bio:

Billy Rucker,  While still a senior in high school, in 2006, Billy got involved in tobacco control through a school-university partnership between the University of Missouri, St. Louis and Jennings School District.  The purpose of the partnership was the development of a school-based prevention program that would build student’s academic skills and community social capital in underserved communities. Through a systematic process of community tobacco risk-mapping Billy and his classmates identified the sale of loose cigarettes as a serious local problem and a social injustice throughout Missouri.  With the support of the university’s Youth Empowerment in Action (YEA!) program, Billy and his peers implemented a community awareness campaign, “Stop the Loose, Stop the Use,” that attracted statewide media attention to the illegal ways smoking is promoted in low-income minority communities. A year after graduating from high school, Billy was promoted to Assistant Director of the award winning Stars & Heroes afterschool program at Jennings Junior High School. In this role, Billy led the implementation of the YEA! Tobacco, Education, Advocacy and Media (T.E.A.M.) curriculum for 7th and 8th graders, building student skills in media and policy advocacy. Billy has been a central member of the YEA! development effort since its inception and became a full-time member of the staff, in 2008. In this position, he helps to organize youth advocacy campaigns, recruit schools, and facilitate student development of creative and effective media projects.  Billy acts as a school liaison for the program in St. Louis City and St. Louis County. Selected accomplishments of the YEA! program have been it’s role in persuading MO legislators to fund tobacco prevention programming, and YEA! students received the highest ranking any Missouri school team has ever received in the national Project Citizen competition. Additionally, YEA! has helped students initiate policy changes in 18 local communities.

Inda Schaenen

Speak Thyself: Using Literary Artistry to Explore Character

Words do a lot of work. Through lecture, minds-on activities, and plenty of real-life examples, this presentation will offer participants the opportunity to figure out their own best ways of using words to get to the heart of character in the classroom.

Bio:

Inda Schaenen is a St. Louis-based writer and teacher of fiction, non-fiction, and journalism. Her parenting guide, The 7 O'Clock Bedtime, sold out its first edition and landed Inda on  "The Today Show" in 2001. Her young adult novels, All the Cats of Cairo, Rainy Day Rescue, The Quarter Horse Foal, and School Day Rides, established Inda as a writer in the middle grade market, while her literary fiction for adults has appeared in magazines such as Santa Clara Review and the Taj Majal Review. Inda's feisty essay, "On Being a Radical Feminist Stay-at-Home Mom," recently appeared in a well-publicized Random House collection called Mommy Wars.

A veteran teaching artist for Springboard, Inda has a special interest in dialect diversity and using writing as a means of connecting people across boundaries of culture and community. Her three-year writing residency at Gundlach Elementary, a successful pilot program for St. Louis Public Schools, provided the inspiration and experience for Inda's doctoral dissertation on teaching and learning processes in writing workshops. Inda especially enjoys exploring the interplay of language, identity, and character from place to place.

Raised in New York City and a 1983 graduate of Amherst College, Inda is living proof that English majors who came of age in the 1970s still roam the earth.

E. Louis Lankford

American Values in American Art

In this session, participants will view and interpret a number of well-known paintings by American artists who sought to capture the values as well as the look of average Americans at home and work. These works not only reflected America but provided for Americans a sense of personal and national identity. Among artists whose work will be discussed are John Stuart Curry, Thomas Hart Benton, George Bellows, John Sloan, and Norman Rockwell.

Bio:

E. Louis Lankford is the Des Lee Foundation Endowed Professor in Art Education at the University of Missouri–Saint Louis, where he holds a joint appointment in the Department of Art and Art History and the Division of Teaching and Learning, and serves on the faculty of the Museum Studies Graduate Certificate program. He has collaborated on many classes, teacher workshops and events with colleagues in Public Programs and Education at The Saint Louis Art Museum. Lankford earned his Ph.D. in Art Education at Florida State University in 1980, and has since contributed to his field with over forty-five articles in leading professional journals, two books, several book chapters, and numerous keynote lectures and seminars at state, regional, and national venues.

Marilyn Perlyn & Lee Knight

Music and Morals: Notes to Live By

The development of morals in children all begins with empathy. Join Marilyn and Lee for an in-depth presentation on how to help children feel empathy through music, song, dance, theater, and art. Based on a true story, the new musical play, The Biggest, Brightest Light of All, will be shared and the script given to each attendee. You will learn how this play can be used in your school to provide experiences that build character while engaging children in educational and fun activities. Learn how to involve not only your students but community members as well in feeling for others and in making a difference. Guaranteed to be an extraordinary performance that benefits all!

Bio:

Marilyn Perlyn is the author of the acclaimed book, The Biggest and Brightest Light: A True Story of the Heart, and is a dynamic and inspirational speaker. Her book was selected as the book to be given to 100 of Florida’s most outstanding teachers at the 2005 Florida Teacher of the Year awards. Her area of expertise is in teaching educators and parents how to instill empathy and a caring spirit in children. She has raised three children who have all received local, state, and national awards for their community service efforts.  Her family has been written about in ten books and has been featured on numerous radio and television shows, including the Oprah Winfrey Show. The Perlyn family is the recipient of more than thirty awards, including the national Daily Points of Light Award. Marilyn is a board member of the Miami-Dade County Superintendent’s Serving-Learning Council.

Bio:

Lee Knight, who brings "books alive" with song, dance, and play, is the consummate performer—with a background in theatre, dance, music, and voice—inspiring in children a zeal for stories and learning. As a native New Yorker, Lee performed with the American Ballet Theatre Company as a child, then went on to study acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute through New York University's School of the Arts (BFA). While at NYU, Lee also taught acting, singing, and dance at The Long Beach Theatre Guild's School where she choreographed, wrote, and directed musical productions. Lee currently teaches voice at The Sam Ash Music Institute in New York City. Lee and her sisters piloted the Books Alive workshop for thirteen third grade classes in Jesup, Georgia. It was a huge success combining, poetry, art, music, staging, and a love of reading! In addition to the large Interactive Concerts, Lee offers a variety of classroom workshops promoting reading and voice projection using original songs and digital recording devices.  Both the concerts and workshops involve story telling with figurines and puppets, acting and expression.  Many children have participated in their first theatrical experience with Lee Knight’s Books Alive.

Brandi Boyer

Project your Students’ Voices Through Art!  

It’s easy to provide “hands-on” experiences in the art classroom, but what about “minds-on” experiences? Looking for new critical thinking strategies? Are you willing to allow your students to take risks? Would you like to provide meaningful learning experiences for your students? This session is great for whether you are just starting out, or looking for fresh ideas on how to provide optimal learning through the integration of character education and service learning into your curriculum.

Bio:

Brandi Boyer received her Bachelor’s of Science in Art Education in 1999 from Missouri State University; Springfield, MO. She has been teaching 7-8 grade Art and Character Council at Ridgewood Middle School (2006 National School of Character) in Arnold, MO for 11 years. She has taught a Creative Arts Course for St. Louis University for the past two years, and published the Character Council class design for other schools to replicate. She is also a member of the Fox C-6 School District’s (2009 National District of Character) Character Education team and has presented at various character education conferences at the State and National level.

Metro Theater Company

Rehearsing for Real Life:  Creative Drama Strategies for Character Education

Looking to expand your toolbox with more strategies to talk about difficult issues with your students, like teasing, name-calling and bullying?  Metro Theater Company's Education Director Emily Kohring introduces you to creative drama and movement strategies that will help you and your students generate constructive dialogue and creative solutions to sticky problems among peers.  The instructional strategies you learn correlate with the picture books, Say Something by Peggy Moss, and Wings by Christopher Myer, but can be easily adapted to any classroom literature with character education themes. Metro Theater Company will offer easy creative tools for classroom teachers to adapt and put to use immediately. 

Bio:

Emily Kohring is Education Director/Artistic Associate at Metro Theater Company, where she oversees all education programming, including classroom residencies, professional development for K-12 educators, and after school and summer programs.

Kohring is an active teaching artist, and regularly works in the classroom with young people ages 4-18.  She created Metro's signature education program Building Community through Drama, offered to every 5th and 6th grade classroom in the Webster Groves School District
for the past five years. 

She has previously partnered with CHARACTERplus for a school-wide artist residency at McKinley Classical Junior Academy in the St. Louis Public Schools, and at Hoech Middle School in the Ritenour District.

She is an adjunct instructor in the School of Education at Maryville University.  She is a Fellow of the Regional Arts Commission's Community Arts Training (CAT) Institute, and serves on the Professional Development Committee for INTERCHANGE.  Emily has an MFA in Theater for Youth from Arizona State University.

Marsha Coplon

Creating Character through Playwriting

Writing literacy, character education and imagination in one fell swoop.  Playwriting encourages students to explore the world around them and allows them to test behavior choices safely.  Using elements of the WiseWrite program—a successful 14 year partnership between The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Springboard—participants will walk away with suggestions and strategies that will allow them to use playwriting to help their students build character by creating characters.

Bio:

Marsha Coplon is the Director of Education at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.

Though her mother claims she has been melodramatic all of her life, Marsha Coplon did not start out working toward a career in the world of theatre. However, in her 16 years as a special education teacher, Marsha used theatre in her classroom as well as keeping it as a consistent presence in her life. 

In 1994 Marsha joined Syracuse Stage as their Director of Educational Services.   During her 4 years there, in addition to working with teachers and students attending the productions, Marsha had the opportunity to serve as adjunct faculty at Syracuse University working with education and drama majors on using theatre to teach classroom curriculum.  She also co-directed a University touring show for children and made her professional acting debut as a dead body for 20 minutes.

In June of 1998, Marsha moved to St. Louis to become The Rep’s first Director of Education. In 2001, the Webster University Education Department began using Marsha  as a guest speaker and team teacher for their undergraduate pre-teacher and graduate level teacher training programs. In the Spring of 2009 she became an adjunct faculty member for the Webster University Conservatory of Theatre Arts teaching Theatre Appreciation to non-theater majors.

One of The Rep’s key educational programs is WiseWrite done in partnership with Springboard.  In the course of this writing literacy program playwriting is used to help students explore their own feelings as well as the perspectives of others. 

Marsha holds a BS (teaching) in special education, an MAT in communication arts and has done 30 graduate hours in criminology/delinquency prevention.