We are privileged to work with and support some of the most creative teaching artists in the South – many we have presented in local schools. One of the missions of RiverCenter is to provide arts education opportunities for our school children and teaching professionals. This is a curated list with every presentation being vetted. Almost all are connected to curriculum standards (although there are a few that are just for fun!) Our hope is that teachers and ‘parent/teachers’ will find lots to use here. Please feel free to share this resource with others and let us know what you think.
RiverCenter Teaching Artists
Ron Anglin is a former middle school teacher who ‘leads with his art’! While teaching he used his juggling as a way to gain his students’ attention and found he could use it to teach all kinds of lessons. His performances in the classroom and on the RiverCenter stage have entertained and educated kids of all ages. In addition to teaching, he brings smiles and giggles to little hospital patients as Dr. Tiny the Clown. Centripetal Force Examples, Constant Acceleration of Gravity
How to Juggle the 3-Ball Cascade, Center of Gravity 2
Barry Stewart Mann travels and performs all over the world as an actor, educator, writer and master storyteller. As a RiverCenter teaching artist, he also excels at tying curriculum to the arts in many of our Muscogee County School District classrooms during in-school residencies. A perfect example is his new program based on the 1st grade phonics curriculum called ‘My Mouth is Exploding.’ After his most recent residency at Downtown Elementary, the principal made him an honorary faculty member. The Fingers and the Thumb, Cinco Huevos (Five Eggs), Hello, Things, Why Possum’s Tail is Bare
Tom Johnson, Toma the Mime, teaches young authors how to write and perform. He has participated in one of our most popular arts education programs, Young Authors Day, for more than four years as part of RiverCenter on the Road. The program day is based in 3rd-grade literacy standards and is designed to support and enhance the creative writing curriculum. Toma the Mime also connects his talent to language arts through traditional presentations of classical and modern mime techniques. Check out this video of Toma doing his story about a doctor’s visit and all the things that can go wrong!
Sietske Johnson first inspired young minds as a third grade teacher at St. Luke School. Her knack for inspiring children goes beyond teaching art to include science, social studies and history. As a RiverCenter Teaching Artist, her craft includes combining everyday found objects – like liquid dish soap and coffee – with acrylic paint to make learning visual art fun with eye catching results! She recently led an indoor mural painting project at Fox Elementary that motivated each and every student in the school to contribute their creative talents… and have fun learning at the same time! Check out this video as Sietske teaches us to paint birds with an unusual medium – coffee!
Dave Holland understands how to link learning to the arts and brings high levels of energy to his lessons. He is a life-long, world-traveled “rhythmatist” who pursues his passion for all things rhythm to create compelling, curriculum-based programs. As a RiverCenter Teaching Artist, he uses storytelling, sound and science, character education, and cultural appreciation to create memorable assembly programs, workshops and residencies. Check out his videos on his YouTube page! Dave has also figured out a way to have class visits remotely! He’s calling them Virtual Visits and you can find out about bringing Dave to your classroom at dave@beatinpathrhythmevents.com.
Jed Dearybury is the newest educator to join the RiverCenter Teaching Artist team. Recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, he was also named a top 5 finalist for South Carolina Teacher of the Year. Jed combines a passion for teaching with fun-filled performances and provides hands-on, engaging learning experiences for students and teachers. Look for him on FB. You’ll be glad you did.
Noelle Friend motivates students to learn visual arts by teaching in and out of the classroom. Her online learning programs illustrate the connection between language and visual arts. As an educator for Meriwether County Schools, she encourages her students to participate in interactive arts-learning by observing, talking to and painting with professional artists. Noelle is the recipient of a Georgia Department of Education stART Grant that provides support to quality arts education programs that significantly improve student access to the arts. Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes
Lee Bryan is a nationally recognized artist and performer who combines live vocal characterizations, original music and innovative puppet designs that deliver an educational punch! His honors and awards include an Emmy® nomination by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his work with Georgia Public Broadcasting on the Spanish language series Salsa! With more than 15 years of experience working in the school systems across the Southeast, his original stories and clever adaptations of classic tales encourage learning by incorporating multiple styles of puppets within the same show. Find him on FB at That Puppet Guy for his weekly stories he is producing from his home studio.
Center for Puppetry Arts
Our friends that lead the Education Department here, Aretta Baumgartner and Jeff Domke, have produced a varied series of lessons about all things puppetry. Www.puppet.org Will take you to a ton of resources and check them out on FB for a daily ‘Puppet Pow’ moment.