Heidi Mordhorst is a working poet and teacher who has taught in diverse classrooms for 35 years. She is the author of two collections of poetry for young readers (SQUEEZE: POEMS FROM A JUICY UNIVERSE and PUMPKIN BUTTERFLY: POEMS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF NATURE, both Wordsong) and many contributions to journals and anthologies for adults and children, most recently POETRY BY CHANCE (Button Poetry) and DEAR HUMAN ON THE EDGE OF TIME: POEMS ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE US (Paloma Press). Heidi recently served a 3-year term on the NCTE Excellence in Poetry Award Committee.
Marcia Daft is a professional musician and arts educator. She works fluently in Spanish and English. She is the Founder of "Moving Through Math" and "Teaching the Music of Language." Marcia’s unique teaching methods have been energizing classrooms, performing arts centers, and school districts across the United States for over twenty-five years. Locally, Marcia's work is presented at the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Institution, Washington Performing Arts Society, and the Wolftrap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts.
Saxophonist Brent Birckhead is an award-winning artist, whose aesthetic is an intersectional amalgam of traditional and popular styles. Unbound by genre, Birckhead’s approach to woodwind artistry is driven by his compulsion for creative risk and deep respect for legacy. His place in the continuum of a storied lineage begins with his surname, Birckhead, and extends to his extensive musical education and work ethic as a visionary approach to life as a rising leader.
Kathy MacMillan (she/her) is a writer, nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, and signing storyteller. She writes picture books, children’s nonfiction, middle grade and young adult fantasy, and resource books for librarians, educators, and parents. Kathy presents high-energy interactive storytelling programs for all ages that teach basic American Sign Language, workshops for writers, and trainings for library staff and educators. She lives in Baltimore, MD.
Rebecca Crouch is a Chicago native who discovered her natural born aptitude for art as a child. Growing up with her mother, artist Dianne Crouch, Rebecca was immersed in the world of art from an early age. She went on to study at Howard University in Washington DC, where she majored in Mathematics but kept her artistic talent close to her heart.
Bobby Croft is a decorated artist and art educator known for his functional ceramic works. A Frostburg native, Bobby holds his bachelors in ceramics and painting and his masters in teaching, both from Frostburg State. For seven years, Bobby taught middle school art in Washington County before transferring to Allegany County where he now teaches elementary art.
NatashaMirny is a stage director, performer, choreographer, and founder of Happy Theater (https://happytheater.com/). Her background is in pantomime, puppetry, and physical theater. Natasha is also a teaching artist at Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Inspired Child, and Arts for Learning Maryland. She designs and implements arts integration programs for teachers and students in both public and private schools across the US. For the past seven years Natasha has devised and directed more than ten shows for the audiences of different ages.
My name is Dr. Nicole, and I am an author, educator and literary coach. I have a doctoral degree from George Mason University in Education. I am also the author of two books and a collection of poems. My books are inspiring stories about overcoming difficult circumstances.
Saz's expertise rests in providing creative breakthroughs with visual storytelling workshops and captivating keynotes on how everyone is creative. Most commonly, people are not inclined to view themselves as such, thus building barriers for innovative thinking. In response, Saz provides an impactful skillset for thinking differently by exposing techniques that allows one to feel confident and connected to a purpose that unearths an unstoppable creative edge.
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