Workshop Details

Amy Miner

Amy taught elementary school in Jordan School District before going on to receive her master's degree in children's literature at BYU and her PhD from Utah State University. For over 18 years Amy has been an advocate for arts integration. Currently as a teacher educator at Brigham Young University, Amy reflects her deep passion for the arts, literacy, and integration in her research and teaching.

Kelleen Leslie

Kelleen is a 4th grade teacher at Blackridge Elementary in Jordan District. This past July she was accepted to the summer teacher institute at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. There she learned some incredible ways to integrate works of art in the classroom. She also learned about their online resources and extensive lending library. She is excited to share what she has learned with others.

Teresa Love

Teresa Love has been working as a drama/theatre specialist for over 30 years. Her work on the innovative Provo Integrated Arts Project--arts in-service and curriculum—lead her to Los Angeles where she was a founding partner in two Theatre-in-Education/Theatre for Young Audience groups.

For 17 years she was artistic director of Imagination Company, a touring theatre of adult professional actors who performed specifically for children. IMCO reached an audience of over four million children, mostly school populations. She is still actively associated with LA's Open Window Entertainment.

Teresa was an in-classroom specialist with the Fullerton, California School District, and she worked with the Children's Museum of Los Angeles on the Reading Edge program. She currently teaches at BYU in the Theatre and Media Arts Department, instructing preservice teachers in the course Drama in the Elementary School Classroom, as well teaching a course in storytelling. She participates as a professional development partner with the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Project. She is currently preparing to direct Water Sings Blue, based on Kate Coombs award winning poetry book about the ocean, which will tour with BYU's Young Company in fall of 2015.

Vic Larsen

Vic Larsen has taught 5th and 6th grades in Alpine School District. He is a lover of the arts, which is evident in the types of activities he has done in his class. His students look forward to mummifying chickens and doing a process drama that mimics an ancient Egyptian funeral.In his current capacity he has assisted with the development of several STEAM activities across multiple grades. He supports all of the arts, believing that it is through the arts that students fall in love with learning.

Linda J. Parzych

Linda J. Parzych joined Crayola, LLC in June 2001 and is now an education marketing manager. She is part of a team responsible for creating programs, literature, and education advertising, as well as the resources available to teachers. Her work includes the 21st Century Skills video workshops, early childhood literature, a mini grant program partnering with NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals), product resource guides, and hands-on workshops (to name just a few), while she still works a 13-state territory.

Linda soon discovered that this position is much more than just a job; it requires a passion to assist and support visual arts programs throughout her territory. She has formed very close relationships with her arts coordinators and influencers and has helped bring visual art experiences to many elementary school children. Throughout her 12 years with Crayola, she has sponsored and supported numerous art events that directly affect children. She feels personally rewarded when kids reach out and send artwork and thank you notes to her for bringing art into their lives.

Rachel Wadham

Rachel Wadham is the Education and Juvenile Collections Librarian at Brigham Young University. Her published works include This Is My Life: A Guide to Realistic Fiction for Teens and Integrating Young Adult Literature though the Common Core State Standards. Rachel holds a master's degree in library science from the University of North Texas and a master's in education from Pennsylvania State University. Additionally Rachel is a musician who plays eight different instruments and an artist who creates with fiber, fabric and yarn.

Scott Flox

Scott Flox is a career teacher who integrates visual art, music and drama daily into his classroom. His visual arts instruction integrates with effective balanced literacy instruction. He has a gifted and talented endorsement and a visual arts endorsement. He has taught in inner cities, rural areas and the suburbs to refine engaging techniques for all children.

Loretta Walker

Loretta Walker began her career in Arizona, where she taught elementary band and general music after graduating from Brigham Young University. She then earned a master's degree in music education, specializing in woodwinds, at the University of North Texas and an interdisciplinary PhD in Education (Curriculum & Instruction) and Music at Arizona State University.

Since moving to Utah in 1997, Dr. Walker has taught in a variety of universities and school districts. At the University of Utah, she was responsible for all students certifying to teach kindergarten through third grade. In Davis County, she taught music to every child in her school, K-6, each week. She was then on the Education faculty at Weber State University, where she taught core classes in the elementary education and master's of education programs. She then returned to the elementary classroom, teaching general music, orchestra, dance, and drama to a very diverse population of students in grades K-6 in over a dozen schools. She was also a teacher leader of others in similar positions. Additionally she taught courses at Brigham Young University and Salt Lake Community College, and did extensive consulting work for the Utah State Office of Education.

Holly Markgraf-Mayne

Holly has been a performer since early childhood. She has always loved the arts, which have played a vital role in her life. Currently she is a private vocal coach and continues to sing professionally when she is not dancing. For the past 14 years she has performed as a Sun Valley Caroler and New Year's Eve performer.

She is a member of the Utah Dance Education Organization as well as the National Dance Organization. Holly taught as a Beverley Taylor Sorenson (BTS) specialist for three years, teaching at Redwood Elementary in Granite School District and Hobble Creek Elementary in Nebo School District to help kindergarten to sixth grade classroom teachers integrate their core. Her students from Redwood Elementary and Hobble Creek Elementary were asked to perform at Utah daCi. She has also taught at summer workshops for Bantu Refugees.

Robert Marsden

Rob studied music performance at Brigham Young University with cellist Roger Drinkall and conductor Clynn Barrus. While attending BYU, Rob worked as radio host for KBYU-FM, Classical 89. Following his education at BYU, Rob earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Utah, while performing as cellist in the University of Utah Honors String Quartet and as principal cellist of the Utah Philharmonia.

Rob began his career as an educator by teaching elementary music in the Provo School District, later relocating to Kaysville where he taught orchestra for Davis School District. Rob's students thrived in an environment that carefully balanced fun-loving humor with hard work to accomplish musical goals.

Rob is a devoted father of four children, all of whom are pursuing their own musical gifts. An avid woodworker, he can also be found in a pile of wood shavings or a cloud of dust when time permits. Rob is frequently recruited as an adjudicator and guest clinician. He also works as a recording studio artist, having recorded numerous movie and television shows including Pocahontas, 101 Dalmatians, Operation Dumbo Drop, Starship Troopers,Hercules, Xena Warrior Princess, and others. He has served as public relations liaison on the Utah Music Educators Association Board and is a regular presenter at music conferences and events.