Most of you have only known me immersed in the youth innovation space, however this is not where I began. Until the early 2000’s I was managing telecom call centers. In 2001 I left the call center world and bought a franchise of a children’s drama program. Not having any teaching experience, I hired talented educators to host the classes and introduced thousands of children to drama.
While operating drama classes, I was introduced to the Ohio Invention Convention, a k-8 program designed to teach students how to seek out and solve interesting problems. I was fascinated with the program and began to volunteer, eventually taking on a more permanent role.
I discovered many things about the value of drama and invention for young people, and comparing the two different tracks I was on, I realize that both result in the same outcome. Aside from building self-esteem, confidence, and skill in verbal communication, both require a student to consider different life scenarios. Students also develop enhanced listening, critical thinking skills, empathy, perseverance, resilience, and become skilled collaborators.
Fast forward 7 years – I closed the drama program during the U.S. economic recession, but out of this experience, Anytime Drama, a fun, educational drama curriculum emerged. Co-founder Angie LeRoy (Anytime Drama’s Goddess of Magical Play) and I (the Empress of All Things Make Believe) spent the next several years building curriculum for pre-school through teens. I also continued my work in the student innovation space. Leaving the Invention Convention in 2018, I launched Innovation World, the Alliance, the Global Innovation Field Trip and continue to build youth innovation programming.
My journey from Call Center Manager to Empress of All Things Make Believe was empowering! Where has your journey taken you?
Learn more about Innovation World www.innovationworld.org and Anytime Drama https://anytimedrama.com/.
#criticalthinking #perseverance #self-esteem #confidence #communicationskills #resilience #collaborators