1. Internships: Engaging Learners | Grace Elletson

2. If You Knew My Students | Jon Watson

3. Being a Ripple | Martha Swindler

4. Riding a Bike is a Good Idea | Bill Murphy

5. Technology is a Choice | Janell Burley Hofmann

6. How Louis Armstrong Transformed the Twentieth Century | Mick Carlon

7. Role Models and the Myth of Perfection | Jim Hill

8. Self Motivation | Brendan Clark

9. Community Impact | Lawrence Brown

10. Joy | Jung Ho Pak

11. When I Accept Myself as I am Everything is Easier | Alicia Mathewson

 

A senior at Barnstable High School, and an aspiring journalist, Grace Elletson is a local voice for students within her high school and community.  She is currently News Editor of the student newspaper, Insight, and has been reporting on staff since her sophomore year.  Also an intern at the Cape Cod Times, she has a passion for experiential learning and thinking of ways to help improve our education system. Grace plans to attend Ithaca College in the fall with a major in journalism.

 

Mr. Watson has been a teacher of students with severe special needs at Barnstable High School for the past 12 years, following 8 years of work with adults with developmental disabilities.   He sees his students' abilities and personalities first, not their disabilities.   He is a "firm but fair" teacher who feels that "fair" isn't that everyone gets the same, but that each student gets what he or she needs.  He also feels that ALL students need to learn  skills and abilities as they make progress toward their potential, and that a student/teacher realationship must be built with trust, pride, effort, encouragement, and praise. 

 

Martha Rockwell Swindler has been teaching English Language Arts for over 21 years at Barnstable High School.  An activist since childhood, in 1983 Mrs. Swindler traveled the world with her parents, visiting refugee camps.  This experience has truly shaped her multicultural point of view.  In her mission to fight for equal rights she served as advisor to the Gay/Straight Alliance at BHS for over ten years, and continues to hold annual fundraisers for the local safe teen center, CIGSYA.  In her role as Challenge Day Coordinator Mrs. Swindler works to ensure that all students at BHS feel safe and welcome.  Currently she is working with the Anti-Defamation League and leadership at BHS to expand and enhance Challenge Day with the peer-leaderhsip program. 

 

Bill Murphy is the founder of Cape Cod Charitable FunRaisers, Inc. CCCF events include not only the Last Gasp, but also the bowling tournament Roll the Rock, the holiday season Spectacle of Trees, Summerfest, and the Night of Gratitude. 

 

Janell Burley Hofmann is an international speaker and consultant on topics like technology, media, health, relationships and personal growth.  Janell is the author of the book, iRules: What Every Tech-Healthy Family Needs to Know About Selfies, Sexting, Gaming and Growing Up.  She has also presented at TEDx San Diego, Maximum Mumbai, SxSW, and iPadpalooza.  Janell has worked with schools, shelters, families, educators, children and teens while offering private coaching, business and community consultations.  Janell's professional expertise and personal experience as a mother of five children builds strong connections with a wide and varied population.  Janell engages readers, clients and audiences in relevant and meaningful conversations igniting personal empowerment, awareness and purpose in a partnership that will positively impact all. 

 

Mick Carlon's two young adult novels -- Riding on Duke's Train and Travels With Louis (Leapfrog Press) -- have now been adopted by over 30 schools in the U.S. (and one in Spain).  His next novel, Girl Singer, about the romance between an African American jazz singer and a Holocaust survivor, debuted as an adult novel in November of 2015.  Carlon is extremely proud of his 31 years as a  Barnstable Teacher. 

 

Jim Hill designs logos, websites, and all the marketing collateral you'll ever need.  He is a member of SCBWI, the President of the Cape Cod Writer's Center, and holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from VCFA.

 

Brendan Clark, a self-proclaimed "president of fine dress", strives for professionalism and order in all that he does. Brendan is a student with a vested interest in town politics and municipal government, with his involvement as Chairman of the Youth Commision taking the most precedence in that regard.  Brendan is also an active participant in Barnstable High School's music programs. In addition to being an active member of the Barnstable political scene, Brendan attends every town council meeting, actively reads the town budget, plays croquet, and always enjoys the finer things in life: Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider and a Brooks Brothers suit.

 

Lawrence Brown has been an instructor in humanities at Cape Cod Academy for the last 28 years, teaching geography, ancient history, English, and American history.  A Friday columnist for the Cape Cod Times, Brown has published over 1,000 newspaper columns.  He is the author of 5 books including a geography textbook and a book on Hindu theology, published in India in 1999.  He has been an invited speaker at two Parliaments of the World's Religions, Cape Town in 1999, and Barcelona in 2004 and a frequent speaker around the Cape for over 20 years. 

 

Jung-Ho Pak is an American conductor and is best known on Cape Cod for being the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Cape Symphony.  Besides his dedication to the Cape Symphony, Maestro Pak leads the World Youth Symphony Orchestra and Summer Orchestra at the Interlochen Center for the Arts.  He is also music director emeritus of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.  Jung-Ho has a passion for music and the arts which he hopes to share with the world. 

 

Alicia Mathewson is a singer, songwriter, healer, and teacher.  She uses her voice, wisdom, and creativity to help people awaken to their true nature and be happy.