Keynote: Jarred Amato
Dr. J Community, a national grassroots literacy movement. Jarred enjoys reading, writing, and laughing alongside young people every day and collaborating with felllow educators to improve literacy access, attitudes, and outcomes. Jarred in a two-time MNPS Blue Ribbon teacher and the recipient of the Penguin Random House Teacher Award for Literacy and the Inspiring Educator Award from the Nashville Public Education Foundation. Jarred received his B.A. in English and History from Vanderbilt University, his M.A.T. from Belmont University, and his Ed. D. from Lipscomb University. After 13 years of teaching middle and high school English in Nashville, Jarred recently relocated to New Jersey where he and his wide are attempting to keep up with their 2 year old son. Storytelling Workshop: Donna L. Washington |
arred Amato is an award-winning English teacher and the co-founder of Project LIT
Donna Washington is an award-winning internationally known master storyteller, artist-educator, and author who has been providing workshops and performing for audiences of all ages for over thirty-six years. She is renowned for her storytelling for both children & adults from poignant & funny fables about the human condition to racy relationships stories to spine-tingling tales of terror. She has been featured at numerous festivals, schools, libraries, theaters and other venues around the world including Canada, Peru, Ireland Argentina & Hong Kong. During the pandemic, she presented over two hundred shows & workshops virtually online. In 2020, she co-founded the non-profit organization Artists Standing Strong Together with Master Storyteller Sheila Arnold for which they won a 2021 Oracle Award. In 2022 she received the Coleen Salley Storytelling Award.
Donna's eleven storytelling CDs have garnered thirty national awards. She has authored numerous articles about storytelling and education including her very popular blog Language, Literacy & Storytelling. She is also the author of six children’s books: Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa, A Pride of African Tales, The Story of Kwanzaa, A Big Spooky House, award winning Boo Stew, and her latest book, Prak Fills The House. She travels all over the world performing and presenting workshops. She lives with her husband and cat in Durham, NC.
How to Write a Story: John Claude Bemis 
Author Alley: Fri. Oct. 10, 10:30-12:30
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