S. Marek Bennett
www.MarekBennett.com
OBJECTIVE:
To facilitate innovative, experiential arts-based programs in schools and community organizations.
EDUCATION:
Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction May 2004 / Keene State College / WEL program / Keene, NH
/ NH Elementary Certification (K-8 Experienced Educator, 2007), “Highly Qualified” status (2007)
Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Music 1997
Brown University, Providence, RI
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Teaching Artist
Grades K-12 2007-Present
Comics Workshop (Various locations in New England, also in Central America & Eastern Europe)
- Design innovative arts-based curriculum for comics creation and self-publishing workshops.
- Develop and lead school residencies and other programs for students of all ages.
- Plan and coordinate professional development programs for teachers.
- Write grants to support international cultural exchanges between multiple community organizations.
- Create programs for clients including Keene State College, Monadnock Humane Society, New Hampshire National Guard, Norman Rockwell Museum, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, Kimball-Jenkins Estate, Currier Art Center, Sharon Arts Center, Deerfield Academy, Harvard University, Weeks Act Centennial Committee, and more.
[for references, see current & archived client lists @: www.marekbennett.com/calendar ]
Classroom Teacher
Grades Pre-K, 1-6 (Music, Spanish) 2007-2010
Grades 3-4, 5-6-7 (full curriculum) 2004-2007
Hopkinton Independent School, Hopkinton, NH
- Teach basic core academics full-time in multi-age independent school classrooms.
Plan, prepare, and direct special school-wide events (such as the annual Living History Festival). - Develop project-rich and discovery-based multiple intelligences curriculum to address wide range of learning styles and needs.
- Teach specific curricular subjects (science, music, Spanish) in multiple classrooms to grades Pre-K-7.
- Develop music curriculum (coordinated with school-wide history curriculum), including regional folksong, folkdance, and instrumental instruction.
- Develop innovative technology solutions to facilitate communications with families, public relations, and marketing operations.
- Guide students in designing international learning, exchange, and fundraising initiatives (Example: Peruvian earthquake relief roadside clean-up project).
ADDITIONAL SKILLS:
- Sing, compose, research, and perform on banjo, bass, bones, ukulele, accordion, piano, etc. with historical music duo The Hardtacks & folk band Cold River Ranters
- Draw and self-syndicate weekly comic strips & other features for newspapers
- Website design and management, graphic design.
- Digital audio and video production, with social media implementation
- Language skills: Spanish, Slovak
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- 2021 NH Governor’s Arts Award: Arts Education: “Cartoonist Marek Bennett is a teaching artist who serves as an inspiring model for students, educators and other artists. His work is brilliant, playful, relevant and infused with compassion and deep understanding of the world as it is, was and might be.“
- Finalist: “2020 Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards: Best in Young Adult/Non-Fiction” / Pop Culture Classroom
(The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby Vol. 2: 1863) - Finalist: “Best Graphic Novel 2019” / National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards
(The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby Vol. 2: 1863) - “Great Graphic Novel for Teens” / Y.A.L.S.A. 2017
(The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby) - “Best of NH 2016” (NH Magazine): The Hardtacks
- “Stephen C. Foster Arts & Culture Award” (Civil War Round Table of the Merrimack): The Hardtacks
- Official Cartoonist of the Weeks Act Centennial, 2011
- Two graphic novels nominated for New England Arts Awards, 2009
- Xeric Award for Self-Publishing, 2008
- NH Department of Education “Highly Qualified Teacher” Status, 2007
ROSTERED TEACHING ARTIST / PRESENTER WITH:
- Children’s Literacy Foundation
- NHHC‘s “Humanities To Go” Program
- NHSCA (Arts In Education & Community Arts)
- NH State Library’s “Kids, Books, and the Arts” Presentation Series (various years)