Megan Alrutz, UCF assistant professor of theatre, is coordinator of the MFA program in Theatre for Young Audiences at the University of Central Florida and the Orlando Repertory Theatre. She earned a Ph.D. in Theatre (with an emphasis in Theatre for Youth) from Arizona State University, and a B.A. in Theatre from Rutgers University. Her creative and scholarly interests focus on using drama to teach across the curriculum, employing drama and digital storytelling to explore voice and identity, and investigating drama-based pedagogy for the university classroom. Megan is in-demand as a presenter on using drama to teach elementary science and employing multi-media and devising techniques in community based settings with young people, as well as drama workshops for pre-and in-service teachers. She is the director of Artsbridge UCF and editor of ASSITEJ USA's TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences) Today.

Rosette Lippscomb-Brown is in her sixth year as principal of McNair Magnet School in Brevard County. She was named Brevard's Middle School Principal of the Year for the 2005-2006 school year! Mrs. Brown is a graduate Florida State University with her B.S. in English Education, Florida A & M with her master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling and Nova University with a Certification in Administration and Supervision. Ms. Brown has successfully blended the arts throughout her school which has enriched the curriculum for all of the students at McNair Magnet School. In 2007, McNair was named as a School of Distinction by the Magnet Schools of America. In addition, McNair has been named an Arts Achieve! School (2007-2010) by Arts for a Complete Education/Florida Alliance for Arts Education.

Stacy Burdette is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and Florida State University. Mrs. Burdette has been Principal of Cypress Elementary since 2004. Prior to being named Principal of Cypress, Mrs. Burdette served as Assistant Principal, Dean of Students, and teacher at the elementary and middle school in Florida and South Carolina. She is also the proud wife of a Navy Veteran.

Mrs. Burdette leads Cypress with her vision: A School of Excellence for ALL Learners. Since Mrs. Burdette has lead Cypress, the achievement levels have improved as well as quality of education for all students in the arts and athletics. The school has earned a "B"rating from the Florida Department of Education and significantly improved the achievement of its lowest quartile in both Reading and Math.

In 2005, Mrs. Burdette was recognized by Mrs. Columba Bush and received the ACE Leadership Award for the State of Florida. In addition, the school won the Creative Ticket Award at both the State (2006) and National levels (2007) and was featured at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC in 2007. The Disney Teacherrific top award of $15,000 was attained in 2006 to Cypress for its model Clubs program that focuses on mentoring which was also recognized at the Florida Department of Education Innovation Fair. Mrs. Burdette believes strongly that it the responsibility of the elementary school to educate students who are proficient readers and competent in mathematics while providing them a caring, safe, and memorable childhood.

Drama Teacher, Cypress Elementary School (Osceola County), Kissimmee

Maggy Carrillo Diaz is the drama specialist and fine and performing arts director at Cypress Elementary School in Osceola County, Florida. Among the performing groups that have been established under Mrs. Carrillo are the Coqui Dancers, the Backstage Drama Club, and the Colibre Dancers, a troupe of students with disabilities. Cypress Elementary, a Kennedy Center Arts Education School of Distinction, recently performed on the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Millenium Stage. Maggy graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and did graduate studies at Syracuse University and NYU at Courtland. Before coming to Osceola County, she was a principal in Lawton, Oklahoma. Maggy’s enthusiasm for teaching and the arts is equaled by her love of performing. She is a freelance actor who enjoys performing in her community.

Sally Carter has just completed her first season as the Operations and Education Manager of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. As the Education Manager, she oversees the research, planning, and implementation of all educational and community outreach programs such as: Tiny Tots, a program designed to introduce early childhood age children in underserved communities to the orchestra and experience a live performance; the Young People’s Concerts, serving over 55,000 students a year in the public and private sectors of the Central Florida community; and outreach programs utilizing ensembles of musicians to educate students about music in a more intimate setting. Ms. Carter holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Stetson University where she also held the position of principal flute in the University Band and Orchestra. As a former K-5 music teacher with Orange County Public Schools she believes that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the arts in all forms through self-expression and guided exploration.

Musician, Walt Disney World, Orlando

Scott Devlin, a native of Chicago, earned his Bachelor’s degree in music education at the University of Iowa. Scott has been a professional musician at Walt Disney World for 17 years. He has conducted many different groups including the Walt Disney World Band and Disney’s Collegiate All-Star Band; he regularly conducts clinics for Disney’s Magic Music Days and judges band and solo competitions around Central Florida.

Scott has recently performed with the Florida Orchestra and has been featured as a soloist with the Orlando Concert Band. Currently, he plays Bass Sax and is the leader of the Disney Sax Quartet. This group is in demand across Disney property and can be seen at the Atlanta Braves Spring Training baseball games.

Bob Dolan recently joined the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre as Director of Education. He served in a similar capacity for 8 years at Foothills Theatre in Worcester, MA, where he founded the Foothills Theatre School, the Children’s Theatre Company and expanded their Education Department to serve over 9000 school children per year. Prior to Foothills he was the Director of the Conservatory acting program for the Actors Workshop of Boston, and worked with Musical Theatreworks of NYC in the new musical development series. A professional actor for 40 years, his credits range from On and Off-Broadway and National Tours to most of the major Regional Theatres in New England. He is a graduate of Boston College and has trained at Circle-in-the-Square and HB Studios in NYC and as a member of Shakespeare and Company of Lenox, MA.

Dr. Robert Everett, “Biology Bob”, has been using his original concept specific songs in the teaching of life science to children for over twenty years. He is currently an Associate Professor of Elementary Science Education at the University of Central. Dr. Everett teaches various science education courses at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. When he presents his educational songs from his recent BIO-NOTES album to children, they light up and learn. Some song favorites are I’m a Frog, Mammal Jammin’, Parasites, and The Pink Pig Blues.

Marty Eyster brings more than twenty years of dance experience to Brevard County. Mrs. Eyster began training with the Royal Ballet in England and with teachers from the University of Utah and the University of South Florida. She has performed leading roles in many notable ballets and over the past ten years has work in Brevard County to promote the Art of Dance. Mrs. Eyster is currently Vice-President and the Artistic Director of Precision Contemporary Dance Company and a consultant for McNair Magnet School of the Arts in Rockledge, Florida. She has written dance curricula for Arts for a Complete Education/Florida Alliance of the Arts Education and is an active board member of the Florida Dance Association.

Website: www.precisioncontempdance.org

Debbie Fahmie is the music teacher at Cypress Elementary in Osceola County, Kissimmee, Florida. She has served as President of the Osceola Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, the Osceola Arts for a Complete Education Coalition and the Osceola Center for the Arts. Currently, Debbie is President of the Florida Elementary Music Educator’s Association. She is also a member of the Florida Music Educator’s (FMEA) Mentor Program, the FMEA Assessment Task Force and Writing Team, the Grade Level Expectations Writing Team and Project Manager for the Start With the Arts Curriculum Writing Team. In addition, Debbie is a trainer for the National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards as well as the contemporary choir director at Holy Redeemer Church in Kissimmee, Fl. She has taught through Stetson’s Community Outreach Program in Celebration as well as in the First Saturdays program at the Orlando Museum of Art. She has been the multiple recipient of the Disney Teacheriffic Award, the School to Work Best Practices Award, the 2001 United Arts Educator of the Year Award, the 2001 Arts for a Complete Education (ACE) Educator of the Year Award and the 2004 Florida Music Educator’s Association’s Innovative Project Award. She was recently named the 2008 Osceola County Teacher of the Year. This year, Cypress Elementary was named a Creative Ticket National School of Distinction by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Debbie took thirty-three students to Washington, DC to perform at the Kennedy Center on March 27th.

Marilyn Farber received her Masters in Art Education, University of South Florida and has a BA in Art Education from the University of New York, Brooklyn College.  Marilyn holds  Florida teacher certification in K-12 Art and has taught art on the elementary and middle school level in the public and private sector. Her professional development programs emphasizing the inclusion of special needs students through the arts are in high demand. She has been the Gallery Manager for The Tampa Museum of Art as well as the curatorial assistant for The Tampa Museum of Art.  Marilyn is currently a Board Member of the Tampa Jewish Community Center Program Board.

Andrea Gelfuso has recently accepted the position as Professional Developer in the Oscar J. Pope Elementary School in Lakeland (Polk County.) She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration and is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in the area of Early/Middle Childhood Literacy Development. She has spent six years as a classroom teacher at a Title I School of the Arts in grades two through five. In addition to her classroom experience, Andrea has been a Reading Coach and Teacher of the Gifted.

Andrea Gelfuso has developed and implemented arts-infused units in both the primary and intermediate grades. These units have been presented to classroom teachers throughout Florida. She has worked closely with arts teachers and classroom teachers in their effort to integrate literacy and the arts.

Sarah Henderson has been a theatre artist for over 20 years. She has a BA in Theatre from Mary Washington College and has studied devising theatre with Michael Rohd/Sojourn Theatre at Northwestern University. She has also studied with David Diamond/Headlines Theatre in Vancouver Canada and Theatre of the Oppressed workshops with Marie-Claire Picher/Brecht Forum in NYC. Sarah Henderson has created theatre programs for Boys Clubs of Greater Dallas; she is working with a K-8 school to infuse the arts across the curriculum. At PS RESPECT in Osceola County, she is creating theatre programming and facilitating the writing of musicals by teens 14-18 years of age, on the issues of health and sex. Sarah has created a photography exhibit on Parent/Teen Communication, as well as producing two docudramas that have aired on local government channel Access Osceola.

Chris Kahl is a musician, singer/songwriter, and Artist in Residence in Brevard County Schools. He works with elementary school students teaching songwriting and composition skills. His program, “A Musical Journey Through Florida”, highlights Florida History through Chris’s original music. Chris’s songs have won numerous Florida songwriting awards. He is an active performing artist throughout the state of Florida. In addition to appearing at numerous state music festivals, Chris has recently been selected as a Road Scholar with the Florida Humanities Council, to bring his “edutainment” to libraries statewide. He holds an MBA from Rollins College ( Winter Park, Florida).

Website: www.chriskahl.com

Brian Kier, a strong advocate for the arts and arts education, is a frequent spokesperson. He has been recognized as Administrator of the Year by the Florida Music Educators’ Association. Brian received his Bachelor’s degree from Clemson University in elementary education, and his Master’s degree in educational leadership. He is Principal of Davenport School of the Arts, a K-8 Polk County public school. Brian led the transformation of the school into a choice school for the arts and facilitated its academic advancement from an “F” to an “A” school. Davenport has been twice named a Florida Music Demonstration School (from 2003-2010) and has been recognized by the Florida Alliance for the Arts Education as the Florida’s Creative Ticket Arts Education School of Distinction, awarded by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. DSA has just been named an Arts Achieve! School by Arts for a Complete Education/Florida Alliance for Arts Education.

At McNair, Cari works with administrators and teachers to facilitate an arts integrated program for seventh and eighth graders. In addition, Cari has extensive experience as an interdisciplinary teacher at the elementary level. She holds the Bachelor in Education degree from the University of Central Florida and obtained National Board Certification in 2000. She is currently completing her Educational Leadership degree from Nova Southeastern University.

Patty Lanier received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physical Education from the University of Central Florida. She is a member of the UCF College of Education faculty and works with elementary education students as well as physical education students in movement education. Ms. Lanier was the Physical Education Instructor at Keeth Elementary School in Seminole County for twenty years and has taught at Seminole High School as well as Jackson Heights Middle School. She is a frequent conference and workshop presenter and a strong advocate for arts integration.

Kathy facilitates teacher training, student recruitment, and program documentation. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Central Florida and her Master’s in Education with certification in Administration from Florida Atlantic University. Prior to joining the McNair Team, Kathy was the Lead Teacher at Gardendale Elementary Magnet School, overseeing the Fine Arts and Cultures Magnet and taught Art K-6 in Brevard and Broward (Florida) Counties.

Kay Hardesty Logan brings an unusual diversity of experiences to the challenges of educational programming and arts outreach. Her professional involvements have included professional flutist; special education consultant, programmer and Institution administrator; teacher trainer/consultant in special education music; author for Silver Burdett Ginn and professional journals; site visitor/panelist/program evaluator; program design and implementation: Alzheimer and nursing home patients/ deinstitutionalized older adults/developmental expressive arts for profoundly multi-handicapped/language delayed pre-school children.

Current program involvements are the Music at Noon program at Penn State Erie; this is a multi-faceted interactive chamber music series; Chamber Music Connections at the University of Maryland - providing undergraduate chamber ensembles with the information and skill training needed to develop successful presentations for school and community populations; Logan Chamber Music series at Chautauqua Institution.

Ms. Logan has served on the Eastman School of Music Board of Managers, MENC National Advisory Committee, Advisory Committee for the Center for Educational Partnerships in Atlanta, Very Special Arts board, Chamber Music America Board, American String Teachers Association, Chautauqua Institution, and Orchestra of St. Luke’s education committee. She resides in Alexandria, Virginia.

Dr. Lovins is an experienced choral and general music educator with degrees from the Crane School of Music, State University College at Potsdam, New York (B.M., M.M.) and The Florida State University School of Music (Ph.D.). She taught public school music from 1980 to 1998 and held a number of district-, county-, and state-level leadership positions. Dr. Lovins developed the music education curriculum for Buffalo State College in New York State. She is Director of Music at Lafayette Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, Florida and has served as Program Director for Arts for a Complete Education/Florida Alliance for Arts Education (ACE/FAAE).

Hope McMath is Director of Education at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens and has twelve years of experience in museum education. During her time at the Cummer, she has designed and implemented programs that bring arts opportunities to over 50,000 students and adults annually. She is the Site Director for the local VSA Arts affiliate. In this role she has been responsible for creating a nationally recognized art festival for over 2,000 students with profound disabilities and Women of Vision, a program bringing art making and literacy to a group of women who are blind and visually impaired. Hope has written successful grants to support programs in arts infusion, school partnerships, youth and family initiatives, arts in healthcare, and disability projects. Due to her efforts, the Cummer was awarded the first Disability Access award from the city of Jacksonville, and has been recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children. She was named Museum Educator of the Year for the state of Florida in 2003 by the Florida Art Education Association and the Art Educator of the Year by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville in 2005. In addition, she was recognized with the National Community Service Award by VSA Arts in 2005. Most recently Hope received the national Art Education for the Blind Community Service award for her efforts in making art accessible to children and adults who are blind and by Arts for a Complete Education as the Doris Leeper art educator of the year. She is also a working artist whose relief prints, etchings, and monotypes are exhibited and collected throughout the Southeast.

Suzanne McPherson received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education at the University of Central Florida. She is a Ph.D. in Music Education student at the University of Memphis.

Suzanne has taught general music both in Florida and Tennessee. Currently, she is writing a music and literacy integrated curriculum for Promise Academy in Memphis.

Website: www.geofitness.com

Susan Olson danced for the legendary Agnes de Mille making her NYC debut at Lincoln Center in a principal role at the age of 18. Through this affiliation, she toured nationally, danced in a principal role on CBS at the Kennedy Center Honors, appeared on Broadway at the Majestic Theater in the 1980 revival of Brigadoon and in Dance Magazine. Ms. Olson also appeared as a guest artist for Lee Theodore’s American Dance Machine.

Working also as a professional choreographer and actress, Ms. Olson choreographed for or appeared in productions at Theater Under the Stars in Houston , The Alliance Theater in Atlanta and various Summer Stock companies throughout the US. Ms. Olson has also done regional air commercials and appeared in the film “ First in Freedom.”

As the Artistic Director of the American Dance Theater in Misawa, Japan and The San Angelo Ballet in San Angelo, Texas, Ms. Olson had the opportunity to set many new contemporary works as well as beloved classical pieces. She is on faculty at Harrison Center for the Performing Arts where she teaches Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and choreographs for the productions there.

Ms. Olson received her training from the internationally acclaimed North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston – Salem, NC where she attended both the High School and College programs.

Mary's specialty is music for children. Mary is senior author of Pre-Kindergarten through grade 8 music textbook series published by Silver Burdett Ginn. She is the Founder and first Director of Florida’s Arts for a Complete Education/Florida Alliance for Arts Education; this program has been instrumental in developing programs and policies affecting arts education in Florida. Her many awards include recognition from Florida’s Governor, Legislature, and Department of State for her leadership in Arts Education; ACE of Hearts; Pi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year; UCF Pegasus Professor nominee. Mary holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in Music Education from the University of Illinois.

Associate Professor and Music Education Division Head, University of Memphis

Dr. Nicole R. Robinson earned a BA and MA in Music Education from North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC) and a Ph.D. in Music Education from Florida State University. She is Associate Professor and Music Education Division Head at the University of Memphis. Dr. Robinson taught elementary general music as well as middle school chorus in North Carolina. She has served as Instructor of Music Education at Florida State University and as Director of Music Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her professional and research interests include effective teacher preparation, arts integration, and urban music education. Dr. Robinson has presented workshops, clinics, and research at state, regional, and national levels.

Susan has developed numerous interdisciplinary curriculum materials to support Museum collections and exhibitions. She was the Project Director of “Learning Florida History Through the Murals of Christopher Still,” and “Exploring Uncle Monday and Other Florida Tales” projects coordinated through Florida Department of Education and ACE/FAAE. She is a frequent presenter for both teachers and artists. She has received the Briarcliff College Alumnae Award as well as awards from United Arts of Central Florida and the Florida Art Education Association.

Tabatha Scharlach is an assistant professor of reading education at the

University of Central Florida where she teaches research based practices and theories in reading education. She has most recently worked with a team of UCF faculty in a joint effort to integrate the ARTS into all methods classes in the elementary education program at UCF. Tabatha*s previous positions have included elementary school teacher,

Title I reading resource teacher, study coordinator for the University of Florida Literacy Initiative, and professional development coach in reading. Her research interests have focused on improving comprehension and metacognition through teacher read aloud and students active engagement with text. She is currently planning research on improving student comprehension through ARTS integration.

Harolyn Sharpe has been meshing education and drama for 30 years. She teaches students core curriculum through drama and has directed 18 stage productions using child performers. Harolyn has coached teachers to integrate the arts throughout the curriculum in urban and rural schools. A Kentucky native, Harolyn now lives in Orange Park, Florida.

Joe Sniegocki has been teaching at Harrison School for the Arts for the past 5 years. He teaches 9th-12th graders in a variety of subjects including Theatre History, Acting, and Comprehensive Theatre. A graduate of Auburn University, he has worn a number of hats in the theatre world including Production Manager for Naples Dinner Theatre, Artist in Residence for 3 years at Birmingham Children's Theatre and Master Puppeteer for 2 years at Theatre West Virginia.

Lee-Anne Trimble Spalding is on the faculty at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. She specializes in the teaching of Language Arts at the elementary level as well as clinical training at the elementary level. In her more recent past, she has written eight nonfiction books for the library market and 10 readers’ theater scripts for use by classroom teachers. Her creative book projects have stimulated students and teachers alike. She works directly with teachers and students in schools to implement innovative strategies for teaching and learning. Lee-Anne is a former Seminole County Public School teacher and Teacher of the Year. She lives in Oviedo, Florida with her husband, Brett and two sons, Graham and Gavin.

Sarah created collaborative early childhood programs throughout Central Florida. In the Orange County Public Schools, she has been Director of Legislative and Corporate Affairs; Director of Early Childhood and Family Outreach Programs; and a Kindergarten teacher. Sarah is an expert in brain development, reading in the early years, the importance of play, and appropriate practices for young children. Sarah loves to work with children and families and is always teaching and learning. She was designated Educator of the Year by PDK in 1994 and is an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida. Sarah Is the Through the ARTS early childhood specialist.

Laura Stone is passionate about the arts. She recently joined the Division of Cultural Affairs with the Florida Department of State as a Program Manager for Arts in Education and International Cultural Exchange. She manages the Florida Artist Hall of Fame and Florida Arts Recognition Awards. Ms. Stone holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance with an emphasis on teaching from Virginia Intermont College. Laura has contributed immensely to the arts in Central Florida with her ten year career at the Walt Disney Company as a professional dancer, staging specialist and choreographer. She has also choreographed for USFSA figure skaters, with former students competing at the local, regional and national level.

Catherine Tanner holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from the University of Miami, and a Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Central Florida. Her teaching background includes elementary, middle and high school. After serving as the Director of Admission and Recruitment at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music. She has just relocated back to the Orlando area with her husband John. She is an adjunct professor in music education at the University of Central Florida.

Jody Underwood is a product of music technology. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Commercial Music, with a Music Technology emphasis, from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. At Belmont, Jody perfected his sequencing and digital recording skills and was exposed to every type of musical genre and music technology resource. A seasoned songwriter, he has composed and produced music for PBS, TBN, Underground-Mix and numerous short films. A love for music and his belief in the importance of music technology in education led him to SoundTree, a leading company in the provision of music technology services for education. In his 7 years with SoundTree, Jody has personally designed and implemented over 150 music technology systems in the US and overseas-- over 42 of them in Florida alone.