Donate Checks can be made payable to: Gordon Education 3400 Main Street #2 Houston, TX 77002 Major Contributors Arts Connect Houston The Baxter Trust The Burk Family BNSF Railway Foundation The Brown Foundation, Inc. of Houston Cameron Foundation Central Mission Endowment Fund at St. Philip Fondren Foundation Harris County Department of Education Houck Family Foundation Houston Arts Alliance Houston Endowment Mid-America Arts Alliance National Endowment of the Arts Texas Commission on the Arts Thank You to Our Individual Contributors Philamena Baird, Jason Bernal, James Calaway, Krista Calaway, Daniel Cohen, Jessica Fuentes, Kristen Golden, Steven Hempel, Victor Kendall, Cindy Leong-Wu, Janice Martindale, Georgia McBride, Juliet McBride, Chuck Still, Penny Warga, Sesh Bala, Sheetal Bedi, Angel D'Crus, Ali Dhanani, Ben Felleman, Sarah Fenoglio, Andrew Gordon, James Gordon, Rebecca Gordon, Robert Gruman, Dean Haddock, Matt Heath, Ira and Eve Jacobs, Medha Karve, Alyssa Kirsten, Sunil Maini, Pat Moser, Shaila Patel, Heather Westendarp, Rob Shaw, Radhika Inamdar of Aundh Private Foundation

Mission and History Expanding access to the arts When arts are missing in school, Gordon Education fills the gap. Mission: Empowering youth voices through the art of digital media. Executive Director, Dan Gordon, knew first-hand that youth are more engaged when they learn through the arts, s o he launched Gordon Education in 2014 so every student could have the opportunity for arts education no matter income status or geographic location. Kathy Starr, with a professional background in education and heart towards the towards the arts, enthusiastically came on board as a full-time General Manager. Together, they run the daily operations of the nonprofit. With the same educational goals, Houston Public Media and the Houston Independent School District teamed up with Gordon Education to produce Take the Stage. All three entities work together to make Take the Stage a nationally recognized series trusted by parents and adored by kids. The premiere of the pilot episode was hosted by Lauren Anderson, the first African-American ballet dancer to become a principal dancer of a major dance company alongside Chester Pitts, media personality and celebrity football player from the Houston Texans. Take the Stage Premiere in 2015 at the Children's museum. Take the Stage Early Beginnings Watch the pilot episode here Ballet and Ballers The Houston Ballet teamed up with Gordon Education in 2015-2016 to produce a series of how-to ballet videos featuring Chester Pitts (NFL) and Patrick Beverley (NBA). This arts and sports collaboration was produced to make ballet accessible and fun for all kids, especially boys who have less exposure to ballet. Every Take the Stage video is infused with young talent from the local community. Here, the choir students from Parker Elementary added their singing to a Take the Stage video that teaches about prepositions. Community Talent Friends from Sesame Street Carol-Lynn Parente, the former Executive Producer of Sesame Street, traveled to Houston to help produce Take the Stage episodes in 2017. With her nearly 30 years of experience at Sesame Street and with support from Houston Public Media, she helped write and direct 12 educational videos which launched on PBS LearningMedia in 2019. Carol-Lynn provides directorial guidance, script edits, production support, and generously shares her wisdom and joy of educational media with everyone on the team. Carol-Lynn once again teamed up with Take the Stage to produce a new season of Take the Stage episodes in 2021-2022. Kids Advisory Board An Advisory Board composed of a diverse group of Houston-area kids and teens meets periodically throughout the year and frequently during the script-writing process to advise and provide edits on Take the Stage educational content. This youth-led board is essential to the development of all Take the Stage media as many of their editorial suggestions are implemented into the videos that are used in thousands of classrooms. Research Study with 400+ Students Allison Caplovitz, Ph.D. (formally of Blues Clues), led an extensive research study in 24 Houston ISD classrooms to test Take the Stage Media with over 400 students in grades K-5 to ensure that Take the Stage media was effective in increasing academic comprehension. (Research study available upon request) Take the Stage Professional Developments for teachers were launched in 2018 in the Houston-area. These accredited PD’s are free to attend and led by HoustonISD teachers who already use Take the Stage in their classrooms. At these sessions, teacher attendees not only receive training on how to integrate Take the Stage media into their lessons, but they also learn techniques on how to implement arts activities into any type of curriculum. At the end of the professional development sessions, the attendees devise an original lesson plan pairing arts activities with their own academic curriculum whether it is language arts, social studies, math, or science. Debut on PBS LearningMedia In 2019, Take the Stage launched on PBS LearningMedia which greatly increased accessibility to schools all across the country. Elementary teachers use Take the Stage on this trusted platform to teach curriculum standards in both English and Spanish In January 2021, Take the Stage launched two videos on Hellosaurus, which is a new educational online platform that increases the level of interactivity with the viewer. In 2021, Take the Stage produced a second season of 12 bilingual educational episodes with the collaboration from Carol-Lynn Parente, Houston Public Media, HoustonISD, educational specialists, Wharton Dual Language Academy, and South Coast Media. This media launched on PBS LearningMedia in 2022. Inspiring Students 2022, marked the year when Gordon Education took their successes from PBS and brought it straight to classrooms across Houston by teaching filmmaking to students in 3rd-12th grade. This immersive class teaches students to create their own media from concept to premiere. Now, Gordon Education has over five teaching artists working in Houston schools. The addition of filmmaking residencies marked the beginning of a new era for the nonprofit as it deepens its community impact. Gordon Education has taught filmmaking at Wharton Dual Language Academy, Meyerland Middle School, Silambam Houston, River Oaks Baptist School, Gateway Academy, Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, and the list continues to grow! Supporting Teachers Gordon Education supports teachers by providing professional development sessions on integrating the arts into all subjects led by veteran elementary teacher and science specialist, Denise Conway. PD Session: "Take the Stage in the Classroom: Using the Arts to Teach the TEKS" ● Philosophy of Take the Stage arts media and results of data study, group demonstrations on how to utilize Take the Stage media and best practices. ● Q & A with elementary teachers who have already used Take the Stage media successfully in their classrooms. ● Group brainstorming session for teachers to pair fine arts curriculum with academic curriculum ● Break-out groups divided by grade level to create an original lesson plan by integrating the fine arts curriculum into specific academic curriculum. Take the Stage won a Platinum Remi award in 2016 from WorldFest Houston for the production of "Take the Stage Kids visit the Houston Ballet". Gordon Education is a Mid-America Arts Alliance, ENGAGE program recipient, 2018-2020 (funded through the Houston Endowment). Mid-America Non-profit Mentor: Brian Crockett

Take the Stage Free educational media for K-5 classrooms. Watch on PBS LearningMedia Learn about Take the Stage A series of interactive videos that teach academics through the arts for grades K-5. Available on PBS LearningMedia. Take the Stage Interactive Videos In English En Español Click an image to watch a Take the Stage video. Haz clic en una imagen para ver un vídeo de Take the Stage. Take the Stage in Elementary Classrooms Take the Stage is on PBS LearningMedia, an online destination that offers content designed to enhance classroom instruction globally. Aligned to state and national standards, this platform is compatible with the tools teachers use most such as Google Classroom. Addressing the need for quality educational media that's actually free-to-use. Research shows elementary school students have a higher rate of retention when they learn academic curriculum through the arts whether it is through music, dance, theatre, creative writing, or visual art. However, many schools around the country are not equipped with the resources to integrate the arts into the curriculum or have adequate funding to bring in outside teaching artists. Take the Stage meets this need by providing 100% free arts-integration resources to elementary classrooms. There is no catch. All materials are funded by foundations and individuals who believe in democratizing education. Formative research studies document how the Take the Stage media increases comprehension Take the Stage was piloted in five elementary schools and twenty-five classrooms in Houston by Allison Caplovitz, Ph.D. (formally of Blues Clues) with a team of academic researchers from the University of Houston. The study results showed academic improvement in all English and Spanish classrooms for grades K-5. One notable outcome shows elementary students scored 5%-18% higher on a comprehension test when they used a Take the Stage activity in the classroom. Scoring was calculated by both a student pre-test and post-test designed by Dr. Caplovitz. Why use Take the Stage in the classroom? Aligns with the elementary core curriculum. Customizable for the teacher and fun for the students. 100% free-to-use through PBS LearningMedia. Filmed in both English and Spanish to accommodate the substantial Spanish-speaking population in the United States and around the world. For grades K-5 and covers math, science, social studies, and language arts. Incorporates acting, dancing, visual art, singing and creative writing. Features peer-to-peer learning . Comes with supplemental teacher guides and students worksheets.

Bienvenido a Gordon Education Initiatives para las artes escénicas Educando a los niños a través de las artes. Book your residency now Reproducir video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copiar Enlace Enlace copiado Take a look into our Filmmaking Residencies "Can we make another film?" - Student at the end of film residency Esta es su página Acerca de. Este espacio es una gran oportunidad para brindar información completa sobre quién es usted, qué hace y qué tiene para ofrecer su sitio. Tus usuarios están realmente interesados en aprender más sobre ti, así que no tengas miedo de compartir anécdotas personales para crear una calidad más amigable. Cada sitio web tiene una historia y sus visitantes quieren escuchar la suya. Este espacio es una gran oportunidad para brindar cualquier dato personal que quieras compartir con tus seguidores. Incluye anécdotas y hechos interesantes para mantener a los lectores interesados. Haga doble clic en el cuadro de texto para comenzar a editar su contenido y asegúrese de agregar todos los detalles relevantes que desea que los visitantes del sitio conozcan. Si tienes una empresa, habla sobre cómo empezaste y comparte tu trayectoria profesional. Explique sus valores fundamentales, su compromiso con los clientes y cómo se destaca entre la multitud. Agregue una foto, una galería o un video para lograr aún más participación. Meet Our Teachers Our Filmmaking Residencies program features a dedicated team of talented professionals, devoted to equipping our students with the knowledge and skills essential for success in the continually evolving film industry. Our team comprises experts in diverse filmmaking domains, including directing, producing, and writing. Their experience enables us to offer a comprehensive and all-encompassing curriculum. Explore their bios below to delve into their backgrounds and extensive expertise. Ashley Jones Art Director Dan Gordon Executive Director and Teaching Artist About Me Don Francis Tech Lead Gladys Ortiz Education Manager and Teaching Artist About Me Alexa Young Product Manager Bri Guerrero Teaching Artist About Me Robert Rose Product Designer Jaleigha Jones Teaching Artist About Me Link to Residency Reserva una residencia cinematográfica Email: info@misitio.com Teléfono: 123-456-7890 Primer nombre Apellido Correo electrónico School Name Nivel de grado Duración deseada para la residencia Háganos saber si usted tiene alguna pregunta: ¡Gracias por enviar! Enviar

Accessibility Policy Our nonprofit arts organization is committed to providing equal access and opportunities for all children, regardless of their abilities. We ensure inclusivity in all our programs and activities as we remove barriers that may prevent individuals with disabilities from fully participating in our programs and activities. There is no barrier for entry in the filmmaking process, and requires a number of positions from script writer, camera operator, gaffer, audio mixer, editor, production assistant, color grader and the list goes on. A student will always have a place in our educational programs. We s comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations regarding accessibility regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Our staff oversees implementing accessibility measures including physical accessibility providing ramps, elevators, accessible parking spaces, and accessible restrooms. We provide clear and visible signage when we are on set and when we are rehearsing throughout our facilities to assist individuals with visual impairments. Braille signage is offered at our office at 3400 Main Street. We strive to design our programs in a way that accommodates children with a range of abilities. This include providing alternative formats for learning materials, modifying activities, and providing additional support staff. We also accommodate students who only speak Spanish by providing a Spanish-speaking teacher. All of our Take the Stage content on PBS LearningMedia is accessible to individuals with visual impairment by including closed captions and photos and text that can be read by a screen reader. All Gordon Education staff members, including volunteers and instructors, will receive training on accessibility awareness and best practices. This training will include understanding different types of disabilities, effective communication strategies, and how to provide accommodations. We invite feedback for accessibility concerns and we seek feedback from student participants, parents, and school staff. We will make necessary adjustments and updates to ensure an inclusive and accessible environment. By implementing this Accessibility Policy, our nonprofit arts organization aims to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all children. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to engage in and benefit from our programs.

Contacto Esta es tu sección de Contacto. Dígales a los visitantes del sitio web cómo pueden contactarlo y anímelos a comunicarse con cualquier pregunta o comentario. 500 Terry François Street, San Francisco, CA 94158 info@misitio.com 123-456-7890 Primer nombre Apellido Correo electrónico Mensaje Enviar ¡Gracias por enviar!

Welcome to Gordon Education Initiatives for the Performing Arts Welcome to Gordon Education Initiatives for the Performing Arts Bienvenido a Gordon Education Initiatives para las artes escénicas Educando a los niños a través de las artes. When you experience a song, piece of art, dance, film, or theatrical performance, it can leave a lasting impression. As an education nonprofit, w e harness this incredible power of the arts to inspire young people so they can become better students, helpful citizens, empathetic listeners, and creative collaborators. We hope you will join us in our vision t o bring the transformative power of the arts to classrooms and communities around the world.

Testimonios From one classroom teacher to another Este video se eliminó. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copiar Enlace Enlace copiado Reproducir video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copiar Enlace Enlace copiado Take The Stage media has been specifically designed to enhance student engagement in the classroom. Our arts-based interactive materials have received high praise from teachers at Scarborough Elementary, who have emphasized the positive effects it has had on their students' learning experiences. We strive to make education more effective and enjoyable, so that students can achieve their full potential. Take the Stage in the Classroom Lo que dicen nuestros clientes “Haga que los clientes lo revisen y compartan lo que tenían que decir. Haga clic para editar y agregar su testimonio”. Alexa Young, Gerente de Producto

Pilot Episode "Dreams so Real" Back to Mission and History "Dreams so Real" debuted on Houston Public Media (PBS Station in Houston) In the opening episode, “Dreams so Real,” Kylie, a painfully shy girl, tries to fit in and make new friends while goofy boys, high-fashion girls and two encouraging coaches try to keep everyone together. When they meet the world-renowned DJ Reborn, Kylie discovers what it truly means to take the stage with confidence. Not only do the kids on this television show experience the performing arts, but the viewers at home learn right alongside them. With step-by-step instruction, and the appearance of celebrity artists, Take the Stage takes the viewer on a new and exciting adventure into the world of the performing arts.

A music video written and performed by Texas kids who love the library. Join our campaign and send us your own video about what the library means to you. Kids promoting libraries through art. Make art. Join the movement. www.myfriendthelibrary.com

Peace Builders A Documentary In-Production 2022-2025 Palestinian and Israeli teenagers from the Middle East forge relationships in the midst of the most devastating violence the region has experienced since 1948. Support our Film Project Read the Blog Introducing the Peace Builders In 2022/2023, they shared their visions for the future. The Teenagers These individuals were selected by their openness to find solutions and willingness to appear on camera. We hope we can learn from their stories. In 2024, we will capture the realities of life in Palestine/Israel and their efforts to chart a path forward amidst the war. Nama (left) and Shahd (right) Thekra "Since I was a kid [my mom] holds my hand, sits me down, and tells me 'You are strong. You have your own opinion, don't let anybody step on that." Following the Journey The documentary project spans the course of 4 years from 2022-2025 , as we witness these teenagers grow up, form bonds with each other, strengthen their resolve for peace, and confront the uncertain realities of their future. "I'm torn between not wanting to leave home, and a home that is toxic and violent." Tidhar "We're gonna miss The States but now is the important part, the part when you move what you learned here to your home. To your community." The documentary follows only the words expressed and actions taken by these teenagers. We understand these personal accounts do not make up the entirety of experiences of those suffering in the region. Our Approach "I feel like I really need to do something about this because I was born to stand for what's right and take action, and I don't want to be a bystander to what's happening." Coming Together We begin the film in Navasota, Texas in 2022 which is where these teenagers first meet as part of an annual peace-building institute. 2023, they return to deepen their commitment for peace . The film continues production in Nov 2024 in Palestine/Israel to have an up-close look of their peace efforts in a post-October 7 reality. Nama Shahd "You grow up feeling that there is this very big battle between one another and there is very distinct stuff that they blame each other for." Elon Jerusalem Peacebuilders Jerusalem Peacebuilders (JPB) is an interfaith, non-profit organization with a mission to create a better future for humanity across religions, cultures, and nationalities. Integral to that mission is the belief that the future of Jerusalem is the future of the world. To that end, JPB promotes transformational, person-to-person encounters among the peoples of Jerusalem, Israel, Palestine, and the United States. This film was not commissioned nor has any financial affiliation with The Jerusalem Peacebuilders institute. The Organization in Focus Learn about JPB Support our Film Help us complete the production of this documentary in 2024-2025. Your contribution supports: • Production Equipment • Production Assistant • Plane flight Palestine/Israel • Lodging in Palestine/Israel • Travel inside Palestine/Israel Your tax-deductible donation helps tell the stories of these young people finding solutions amidst the ongoing conflict. Supporters: Krista Calaway, Matt Heath, Chris King, Lavanya Rajagopalan, Kenneth Richstad, Barbara Richstad