Celebrating Wayne County Teachers, Celebrating Service
A FREE Workshop, Dinner & Performance for Wayne County’s Dedicated K-12 Teachers
Tuesday, August 13 at Wayne County Community College | 2 pm – 9 pm
Hosted by: Wayne County Friends of Public Education, Wayne Community College, and Carolina K-12
$100 Stipend | Teacher Appreciation Dinner | .5 CEUs
To say these are challenging times for K-12 teachers throughout North Carolina is an understatement. From unprecedented needs, to being expected to do more and more (often with less), we see how hard you are working in Wayne County schools! Join us this summer as we show our appreciation for your service in our schools and to our community with a FREE workshop, dinner and special performance by the renowned actor and Air Force Veteran Dr. Sonny Kelly.
Our afternoon will begin with thinking together about how we can reconnect, reframe and reclaim connected classroom communities, whether in terms of our relationships with students or in terms of our own passion for the profession itself. Despite the challenging times in which we live and teach, acclaimed performer Dr. Sonny Kelly will lead us in considering how simple performative techniques can provide inspiration for students to tell their own stories, can help build the critical foundation of a classroom community, and can be used to build a courageous classroom culture for teaching and learning. Along the way, you just might find yourself re-energized as well!
Our day will convene in a Teacher Appreciation Dinner in which we celebrate each of you and your hard work in classrooms all across Wayne County, with a three course meal!
Following dinner, teachers will have reserved seating for Dr. Sonny’s Kelly’s public performance of “The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans,” which elevates Black freedom fighters and veterans with North Carolina connections – known & unknown, on and off the traditional battlefield – who have engaged in over 400 years of a struggle for freedom, liberty, and equality. Their sacrifices, service, resistance, and resilience have contributed to American democracy, even as they were denied the full rights of citizens. Through listening to their stories in this special performance, we can gain a deeper understanding of our nation’s founding ideals, and harness the hope to continue the work, together, of making those ideals a reality for all.
In further appreciation of your time as a professional, attending teachers will receive a $100 stipend post-attendance!
AGENDA
2:00 – 2:30pm Arrival & Snacks
2:30 – 3 pm Welcome & Introductions
3 pm – 5 pm Rhythmically Reframing & Reclaiming Relationships w/Students
Dr. Sonny Kelly | Performer, Scholar & Founder of Legacy Heirs Productions
During such challenging times in the classroom, how can we reconnect, reframe and reclaim our connections and classroom communities, whether in terms of our relationships with students or in terms of our own passion for the profession itself? Acclaimed performer Dr.Sonny Kelly will lead us in considering how simple performative techniques can provide inspiration for students to tell their own stories, can help build the critical foundation of a classroom community, and can be used to build a courageous classroom culture for teaching and learning. Along the way, you just might find yourself re-energized as well!
5 – 5:45pm Local Wayne County Resource Share
- Wayne County History Museum, Jennifer Kuykendall, (919) 734-5023, director@waynemuseum.org
- Wayne County Public Library, Maegen Wilson, (919) 631-7357, maegen.wilson@waynegov.com
- Arts Council of Wayne County, Heather Reynolds, (919) 947-0009, heather@artsinwayne.org
- Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace, Leigh V. Strickland, (919) 242-5581, aycock@dncr.nc.gov
5:45 – 7:15pm Teacher Appreciation Dinner
Dr. Maya Angelou said that “Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.” In that spirit, tonight is about enjoying great company over a meal in celebration of each of you and your service in Wayne County classrooms!
7:30 Public Performance of “The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans”
“The Ongoing Fight for Freedom” is a performance elevating Black freedom fighters and veterans with North Carolina connections – known & unknown, on and off the traditional battlefield – who have engaged in over 400 years of a struggle for freedom, liberty, and equality. Their sacrifices, service, resistance, and resilience have contributed to American democracy, even as they were denied the full rights of citizens. Through listening to their stories in this production, we can gain a deeper understanding of our nation’s founding ideals, and harness the hope to continue the work, together, of making those ideals a reality for all. Invite your friends and family to attend the public performance!
8:45- 9:15 Post-Performance Panel Discussion