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Keynote Speaker: Peter Reynolds, Author and Illustrator
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Peter is the author and illustrator of The North Star, The Dot, Ish, and Rose's Garden. For more information about Peter and his work, browse through the links below.
Peter Reynolds Biography |
Arts Express 2010: Presenters
Christine Palmer
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Christine Palmer has been creating art as long as she can remember with whatever she can get her hands on. Her current passion is restoring vintage pieces of furniture into funky works of art--her idea of creative recycling. From pottery to painting, her art has been displayed and sold nationwide. Christine has taught art at all grade levels from kindergarten through college; she currently teaches art education courses at Brigham Young University. She insists that every age level is her absolute favorite, and she still cannot believe that she can get paid for having so much fun. Christine received her BA in Art Education from BYU and is soon to complete her MA from BYU as well. |
Julia Ashworth
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Julia Ashworth received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Education from Brigham Young University in 1996, after which she began working as the performing arts department coordinator and theatre teacher at American Fork High School. She received her Master of Arts in Educational Theatre in 2000 from NYU’s Steinhart School of Education, where she worked as a graduate assistant for the Program in Educational Theatre and as the coordinator of professional activities at the historic off-Broadway Provincetown Playhouse in Greenwich Village. She has worked as a teaching artist and director in various New York City public schools and particularly appreciates her involvement with The Young Women’s Leadership School, on Broadway. While in New York she also enjoyed being the performing arts program director for The Children’s Aid Society’s after-school programming. Since returning to Utah, she has enjoyed teaching Theatre Education at BYU,and is excited to create original theatre programs and productions with local public schools. Julia hopes to one day run her own educational theatre organization. Improving Literacy Skills through Drama Integration |
Marilyn Berrett
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Marilyn Berrett is a professor of dance, a teacher, a choreographer, and the founding artistic director of Kinnect, a dance-education outreach company at Brigham Young University. As an independent dance artist with the Utah Arts Council and a certified public school educator, Marilyn has enjoyed working with students of all ages for over 25 years. She particularly enjoys working "side by side" with elementary teachers in dance residencies and professional development workshops. Her choreography has been featured in award winning films and main stage productions across the US and in Brazil, Canada, China, Israel, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, The Netherlands, South Africa, and Turkey. She currently serves on the Dance and the Child international (daCi) Board as USA national representative. She has been president of the Utah Dance Education Organization (UDEO) Improving Math and Science Skills through Dance Integration |
Penelope Marantz Caywood
Penelope Marantz Caywood has been involved with Youth Theatre at the University of Utah since 2000. Penny began as a Guest Artist then acted as Managing Director for three years until she assumed the position of Artistic Director in December 2006. She has worked at numerous community, university, and professional theatres and has directed, choreographed, and musically directed over 25 productions across the Wasatch Front. She is the former Education Director for the Egyptian Theatre Company in Park City and also taught for the Salt Lake City and Catholic school districts. Before moving to Salt Lake, Penelope was the co-founder and resident musical director of Curtains Up! Theatre in Palos Verdes, California. Penelope received a BA in Education from Cal State University at Dominguez Hills. She is currently working on her Master’s Degree during her 27-month-old daughter's nap time and her 9 p.m. bedtime. |
Marcie Carter
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Utah PTA Individual Development Commissioner
Marcie has been involved in the PTA Reflections art program for over 12 years. She was a member of the 1976 Bi-Centennial Band for the State of Utah. She has always recognized the value of Art in building self-esteem as well as enhancing the learning process Strong Arts Schools: What Parents Can Do |
Scott Flox
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Scott Flox is a 30-year first-grade teacher in Jordan District 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. His early training with Madeline Hunter has provided him a developmental approach to teaching children in all his work. He has been recognized with teaching awards several times. Reading Comprehension Strategies using Visual ArtTeaching Basic Drawing Skills with a Master Study |
Michael Hamblin
Life Skills Lessons in 10 Minutes a Day through MusicThis Ten Minute a Day Program is dedicated solely to the development of Life Skills, such as: Focus & Self-Management, Self Awareness & Human Empathy, Decision Making and Problem Solving, Expression & Interpersonal Communication Creative Thinking & Critical Thinking. Come learn how you can effectively use the transitional time in your classroom to provide this unique core curriculum program dedicated exclusively to Life Skills development. |
Xan Johnson
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Xan S. Johnson, Ph.D., is a full professor in the Department of Theatre at the University of Utah. Since 1995, Dr. Johnson has served as Theatre Consultant for the Utah State Office of Education. Dr. Johnson is an internationally recognized specialist in Youth Theatre and Theatre Education. Over the past decade, Dr. Johnson has lectured internationally on the emerging field of social cognitive neuroscience (brain research) as it relates to learning theory, emotional intelligence, and theatre education. Dr. Johnson is a professional stage director and devised scriptwriter. He completed his Ph.D. at Northwestern University where he studied the use of drama to enhance emotional intelligence and moral reasoning in students in the upper elementary classroom. Life Skills Lessons in 10 Minutes a Day through Drama |
Susan Kenney
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Susan Kenney is a professor of music education at Brigham Young University. She specializes in music education from birth through grade 6. She served as national chair of MENC's society for General Music and as a member of the national editorial board for the Music Educators Journal. Professor Kenney has presented workshops across the United States and in Russia, Ukraine and Italy. She has been a classroom teacher, elementary music specialist, private piano teacher, and director of children's choirs. The mother of two girls and grandmother of two boys, she lives in Alpine with her husband Scott. Improving Literacy Skills through Music Integration |
Peter Kraus
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Peter Kraus is a member of the faculty of the J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah. Currently, he is serving in a 3 year position as the Outreach Coordinator for the library; prior to that he focused his career as a Government Information Specialist Peter also teaches in the division of Undergraduate Studies at the University ofUtah and teaches grant writing to faculty and staff in the Research Administration Training Program at the U. Prior to joining the faculty at Utah in 1999, Peter was employed by The Research Libraries of The New York Public Library in Manhattan (the big building on 42nd St with the lions in front) from 1994 to 1999. During 1991/1992 academic year he was a Research Associate at the Institute of Government – Center for Local Government at the University of North of North Florida. Peter is originally from Long Island, NY but was raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He attended college and graduate school at Florida State University. In his spare time he loves to travel, cook and ski. Peter is married to Kristin Kraus, a medical editor at the U’s School of Medicine. Grant Writing for Arts Money |
Mary Ann Lee
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Mary Ann Lee is an Associate Professor, Lecturer; B.A. University of Utah; M.A. University of Cincinnati; M.A. Mills College Professor Lee directs the university’s acclaimed children’s creative dance program, Virginia Tanner Creative Dance Institute, and it’s performing unit, Children’s Dance Theatre . Professor Lee teaches modern dance students courses in pedagogy, and directs student internships with the institute.,Virginia Tanner Creative Dance Program Sustainable Arts-An Exploration in Reduce, Reuse & Recycle |
JoAnn Memmott
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JoAnn currently works as a BTS visual arts specialist and the DAC for Wasatch School District. JoAnn was selected as the visual arts educator of the year for this year for the state of Utah. She has also won teacher of the year for her school in 1985 and 1996, Arts Inc. teacher of the year representing Wasatch School District 1999, A Renewal in Practice award from BYU CITES 2001, and a leadership award from the Utah State Office of Education 2008. JoAnn would rather teach art to little kids than do anything else and runs five or six art camps for kids every summer. |
Lorie Millward
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Lorie Millward is the Assistant Director of Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Utah Museum of Natural History. She has been involved in science education for nearly 15 years. She has designed and implemented a suite of outreach programs for the Utah Museum of Natural History and acts as a mentor to other informal educators across the country. Lorie is interested in how people learn and how to create authentic learning environments in formal and informal settings. She is experimenting with this paradigm as an instructor at the Salt Lake Center for Science Education, where she teaches a course based on scientific process and authentic application. Lorie trained as a modern dancer at the University of Utah before embarking on her career in science and teaching. |
Rachel Lee Nardo
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Rachel Lee Nardo, DMA Professor, Music Education and Beverley T. Sorenson Presidential Endowed Chair - Elementary Music Education School of Music - University of Utah. Prior to joining the faculty at Utah in 2007, Dr. Nardo served on the music faculties at Indiana University (IUPUI), San Francisco State University, and Pasadena City College. Recent activities include directing a National Study of Music in Early Childhood Education for the Music Educators National Conference (JRME, Winter 2006) and other publications, including: From Research to Practice: Training Preschool Music Teachers in Early Childhood Connections; Evaluation of Cognitive and Perceptual Processes Elicited by Interactive Music Software Using Electroencephalographic (EEG) Recording Technique* SRIG, Presention. MENC; and The Assessment of Frontal EEG Asymmetries Associated with Learning Beat and Rhythm: Does Music Help? * CogNet at MIT. Second author. Arts in Academic Learning - Peer Gynt goes to Kindergarten |
George Nelson
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George D. Nelson is an Associate Professor at Brigham Young University in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts. Before coming to BYU, he taught at the University of Texas at Austin where he was one of the founders of the National Curriculum and Training Institute. Since 1979 Professor Nelson has been working and developing education programs designed to use theatrical structures, theories and practice to reach at-risk learners. The Aristotle Effect: Ancient Secrets for Motivating Today's Learners (Part one- session 1 and 2, part two - session 3.)Part 1: Aristotle knew how to fully engage the learners of his day. Even thousands of years later his principles still apply. Teachers and parents who haven’t learned his secrets are missing out on important opportunities to motive young people and get them excited about learning. In part one we will explore the foundation of his principles. Part 2: In part two we will build on the principles explored in part one and incorporate practical everyday applications that will increase your ability to reach and motivate all types of learners. |
Sabrina Theodore
Sabrina Theodore has been an art educator and advocate working with the best and most talented institutes in the nation. She has received degrees in art from the University of Utah and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City as well as studying at Parsons School of Design (NYC). Her vast knowledge of art and beauty is elegantly communicated and gifted to all her students through her motto of "art is a buffet, try it, make mistakes, your mistake could be someone's masterpiece". Ms. Theodore has instructed thousands of young students locally throughout the Salt Lake and Granite School districts and the Tanner Dance Program at the University of Utah. |
Doris Trujillo
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Doris Hudson-Trujillo, a native of Connecticut has fulfilled a demanding career as an artist/educator nationally and internationally. She earned her BFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah and her MA from Brigham Young University. Doris performed internationally as a member of the Ririe Woodbury Dance Company. She has presented her choreography, research, and workshops throughout the United States, South Africa, and Scotland as an independent artist and as the director of her own companies. Her works have been featured in New York City at the American Dance Guild Performance Festival, Ririe Woodbury’s Black Box Concerts and was recently invited to present her company Hudson-Trujillo and Dancers in a concert of her works at the Utah Arts Festival. She has been the recipient of numerous choreographic and educational grants individually and as artistic director from the Utah Arts Council, Utah Valley State College, Brigham Young University, and the Utah Legislature Regional Funding Program. She has taught on the faculties of the University of Utah, Weber State University, and Brigham Young University, and is currently an Associate Professor of Dance, Modern Dance Program Coordinator, and Artistic Director of Contemporary Dance Ensemble at Utah Valley University. She serves as the Past President of the Utah Dance Education Organization, the Dance Consultant to the Utah State Office of Education, and has performed residencies throughout the state a Dance Specialist for the Utah Arts Council. |