Lauren Rogers Hopkins, education programs manager at Flat Rock Playhouse, discusses helping kids find their creatives voices.

Lauren Rogers Hopkins, education programs manager at Flat Rock Playhouse, discusses helping kids find their creatives voices.
Robin Skeen, Odyssey School’s elementary program director, discusses the anxiety young students face and the misconceptions people have about teachers.
Kate Spratt, Buncombe County Public Libraries youth services specialist for the Preschool Outreach Program, discusses trends in children’s literature and ways parents can make reading fun.
Rich Preyer, on-site program coordinator at The N.C. Arboretum, discusses outdoor education, community collaborations and the return of the Wee Naturalist program.
Jacquelyn Hall, co-executive director of Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe discusses the importance of reading to children from a young age and the how everyone in the community can play a role in promoting literacy.
Amy Chambers, art teacher at Glen Arden Elementary, discusses the benefits of the arts and the dedication teachers bring to the profession.
Lyndsay Pruett, member of the Jon Stickley Trio and a teacher at Academy for the Arts, discusses the surprises that come with teaching kids to play the fiddle.
Chehala Andriananjason, WNC program manager at Muddy Sneakers, discusses the benefits of small group learning, taking in the natural world and the best places to hike.
Sara Sanders, director of STEAM Studio, discusses the benefits and misconceptions about STEAM programs.
Jocelin Rosas, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County community school coordinator at Erwin Middle School, discusses student resiliency, social media and the importance of mentorships.
Emma Berger-Singer, owner of Asheville Kids Yoga & Art, discusses the benefits of yoga for young children.
Cactus, the Asheville-based hip-hop artist also known as Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, discusses encouraging self-express, the lessons children can teach adults and the importance of embracing failure as a means of growth.
Jordan Rutherford, the guest services coordinator at the WNC Nature Center, share his thoughts on the benefits of outdoor education and the center’s most popular exhibits for kids.
Jasmine Middleton, head of sustainability at OpenDoors Asheville, discusses the launch of AVL Rise, the compassion that tutors bring to their work and the importance of exposing young children to role models that look like them.
Debbi Timson, Growing Minds Program Coordinator at ASAP, discusses healthy eating habits, local foods and the positive results that come when families cook together.
Paul Clark, communications coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC, speaks to the importance of mentorships and the positive impact such relationships have on area youth.
Millad Nooraei, YWCA Director of Early Childhood Education, discusses his organization’s history, the challenges it faces and ways parents can be involved in their child’s development.
Ellen Bowditch, a retired elementary school teacher and volunteer tutor with Literacy Together, discusses her work with the local nonprofit, the importance of community involvement and the need to show care and respect to our area’s youth.
Jordan Diamond, Bountiful Cities’ FEAST program and garden coordinator at Lucy S. Herring Elementary School, discusses cooking with kids, the benefits of gardening for young minds and the joys of being outdoors with students.
David Bird, a language arts and Spanish teacher at The Learning Community School, discusses the challenges middle school students face, the patience that goes into teaching and misconceptions teachers deal with.
Sarah Steiner, Western Carolina University’s head of research and instruction services at Hunter Library, shares her thoughts on community, uplifting fellow librarians and the importance of asking questions.