A team of education and arts professionals with a combined 75 years of experience has developed DAI programs.
Diana B. Thompson (Founder, Director & Facilitator)
Diana has created and delivered original programs for a wide range of institutions over the past 27 years. These include: NY’s Ensemble Studio Theatre, Rocky Mountain Survivor’s Center, Denver’s Museum of Nature and Science, SCFD’s Alliance Program, Central City Opera, Georgia’s Clayton State College, Denver’s Family Crisis Center, Kent Denver, Environmental Protection Agency, Public Schools in Denver, Atlanta, and New York City, just to name a few.
Diana is a veteran NY trained actress, playwright, and theatre education director. Diana was co-founder of Performing Art Works, a non-profit organization dedicated to building life skills through the arts. Through PAW, Diana created and delivered many programs to high-risk youth; Including Trading Faces, a court-mandated program for Denver Juvenile Court’s TASC program. This was an intensive camp and play-building series for repeat juvenile offenders and gang members in drug and alcohol treatment.
Diana also served as the Theatre Education Manager of the Children’s Museum of Denver, (CMD). Her work at CMD included the development of education programs, training actors and writing plays. Diana’s original play, The Gingerbread Man, is still a museum favorite. In coordination with CMD, the Environmental Protection Agency and Bluff Lake, Diana was commissioned to write, direct and tour an original musical, Garbage Stew, educating young audiences on water pollution issues.
Betty Brittain Ed. D (Curriculum Coordinator and Presenter)
Betty has a long career as an educational leader. Betty has received numerous professional honors and awards. She brings experience, expertise and a strong positive philosophy to DAI. She holds numerous degrees including a doctorate in educational administration, specialist and master’s degrees in guidance and counseling, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and psychology.
She has served, as a librarian, teacher, vice principal, counselor, principal and system wide curriculum coordinator at a large school system near Atlanta. She has presented at the National Conference for the American Personnel and Guidance Association. She has authored numerous educational materials including: “The WHY Manual,” offering techniques to include games as learning tools to increase language fluency, psychomotor development as well as math and science skills. She authored” Alice Matures in Wonderland”, teaching life skills.
As a school administrator, Betty created a two-Year award winning Staff Development Program in reading, writing and thinking.” She worked as a consultant using behavioral self-control techniques to modify aggressive behavior of elementary students. She launched “Playground Learning”, an educational products and consulting firm. Betty has taught many parenting workshops as well as college level Psychology.
Alice Becker (Songwriter/ Program Director)
Alice has been writing for children since 1972. She is an exceptional storyteller who excels in a unique style of writing called “Rhyme Foolery”. Her songs are a favorite in DAI programs.
Linda Joyce (Writing Contributor/ Program Director)
Linda has spent her career working with young children and teens in and out of the classroom. She has additional experience with special needs populations.
The Facilitators
DAI facilitators are highly talented storytellers, performers, and teachers who are committed to the development of children.
The Artists
Denver based artists, Jill Haller & Thom Buchanan have produced DAI’s backdrops, logos, numerous crafts and more. Their unique and colorful style of art is a feast for the imagination. Their lovely and talented daughter Ivy creates many of the props and accessories used in Super Hero Academy programs. Look for Jill and Thom’s amazing artwork in DAI’s upcoming picture book, CinderSilly. For more information, visit http://www.personaportraiture.blogspot.com/