John Schaefer

John Schaefer, director/founder of the Children’s Media Workshop (www.mediadivide.org), is an artist, educator, community builder who uses innovative media experiences to created macro educational systems. His expertise in designing large-scale initiatives is informed by his grass roots authenticity. One day he is working on major systems (500,000 teachers +), the next he is in an inner city classroom giving cameras to kids while looking for a damn marker that has ink. He is a translator of concepts and experiences.

> His photographs are being curated into the Library of Congress Master Photographers Collection

> Designer of the Polaroid Education Program, the largest in-service teacher initiative in US History

> Over 550,000 teachers in hands-on workshops (1988 – 92), resulting in two White House invitations

> Keynote speeches for among others the National PTA, National Art Educators Association, and International Schools In Africa and Europe.

> Conducted the first real-time interactive video workshop with President George Bush Sr. and actress Jody Foster for 35,000 educators

> Designed one of the first online courses, The Media Savvy Classroom, in conjunction with Columbia Teachers College

> Nissan Hometown Hero Award winner on primetime network television, for community activism

> Original member of the Sundance Institute and Film Festival

> Co-curator of the Temporary Museum of Permanent Change (www.museumofchange.org), an innovative downtown invigoration project

> Director of Education for Choice Humanitarian, developing substantive 1st – 3rd World partnership experiences

> Global Classroom ConnectED Project – interactive connectivity between US and Mexican schools