Springboard and UMSL present the Connections Institute 2010

May 20, 2010 - PRLog -- St. Louis, MO – Springboard, in partnership with the Center for Character and Citizenship at the University of Missouri–St. Louis College of Education, presents the Connections Institute 2010: Integrating Character Education and the Arts, to take place June 24th at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront and June 25th at UMSL. This professional development opportunity for K–8 teachers includes a concert and a full day of workshops, performances, networking and hands-on learning with a variety of presenters.

Keynote speaker, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, will kick off the program at 3 p.m., Thursday, June 24, at the Hyatt Regency with a concert and presentation bridging the Connections Institute with Characterplus®.

Friday, June 25, teachers and administrators will gather at UMSL’s J.C. Penney Conference Center for a full day of workshops and presentations. Keynote speaker Yarrow, in addition to his musical fame, is the founder of Operation Respect, an educational nonprofit dedicated to creating safe, respectful, compassionate climates of learning for children. Additional featured presenters include Marvin Berkowitz, endowed professor of Character Education and co-director of the Center for Character and Citizenship at UMSL; Bobby Norfolk, Emmy award-winning storyteller and children’s author; and Jessica Hentoff, artistic/executive director of Circus Harmony.

Teachers and administrators will learn practical ideas for classrooms, authentic curricular integration, creative teaching strategies, and more. There will also be door prizes.

The registration fee is $45 until May 24 and $55 after. Registrations will be accepted until the event. Student and group rates (any Characterplus school, Des Lee Fine Arts Collaborative member or person in a group of 5 or more) are also offered at $45. To register or for more information, please call (314) 516-5655 or visit http://umslce.org/index.php/connections-institute.

Springboard is the region’s largest provider of cultural and arts-in-education programs. For the past 14 years, Springboard has coordinated this professional development institute for K–8 teachers and school administrators that focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to the curriculum that enhance learning and foster creativity.

The Center for Character and Citizenship generates and disseminates knowledge and research about how individuals develop moral and civic character and provides scholars, educators and organizations with the tools they need to contribute to this development.

# # #

About UMSL CE:
The UMSL Division of Continuing Education provides programs that fulfill degree completion, professional development and personal enrichment goals for the lifelong learner. For more information, please visit http://umslce.org.