Thursday, November 19, 2026 10 AM-4 PM
Creating from the Inside Out is an interactive professional learning experience connecting storytelling, literacy, art, mindfulness, movement, curiosity, and creativity. Aligned with the NYSATA 2026 theme of Mind, Body, Spirit, the session explores how stories and art can help students notice, question, express themselves, and connect more deeply with others. Susan Verde brings the author’s lens of storytelling, mindfulness, yoga, body awareness, and emotional presence. Allie-Alejandra Joyner brings the educator’s lens of literacy, the science of curiosity and creativity, and evidence-aligned classroom practice.

Together, they will model a practical book-to-art learning framework that connects read-alouds, movement, visual art, writing, reflection, and student voice. At its center is a simple belief: art and literacy are deeply connected. Through words, images, movement, symbols, questions, and stories, students make meaning, communicate ideas, and better understand themselves and the world.

Participants will

• Understand how storytelling, mindfulness, curiosity, and creativity can support meaningful learning
• Explore how movement, music, breath, and body awareness can strengthen attention, connection, and readiness to learn
• Examine how evidence-aligned practices can guide instruction while preserving student choice, original thinking, and authentic expression
• Experience practical ways to connect picture books, visual art, oral language, writing, movement, and reflection
• Develop adaptable strategies that support student voice, creative confidence, self-discovery, and belonging

Tentative Agenda*
9:15-10:00 AM—Coffee and check-in
10-11 AM Introduction to the Creating from the Inside Out framework
10:30 AM-12 PM—Picture book read-alouds, mindful movement, and hands-on creation
12-1 PM—Lunch (provided)
1-1:30 PM—Reflect, translate and share
1:30-3:30 PM—Classroom routines and collaborative lesson plans
3:30-4:00 PM—Questions and next steps
* timeline subject to change

Registration fee includes morning coffee and mid-day lunch with all gratuities + CTLE certificate for 5 hours
$129 Member/District Member
$99 Member Student, Retired, Unemployed 
$189 Non-Member

Space is limited to 40 participants.
Deadline to Register is November 1, 2026

CLICK HERE to register for Preconference

CLICK HERE for Cancellation and Refund Policy

Susan Verde
New York Times bestselling author, Susan Verde grew up in the heart of Greenwich Village in New York City. Ultimately, she moved to the Hamptons where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in reading remediation and became an elementary school teacher for many years. 

Now, Susan is an author capturing and celebrating the unique experience of children. Her titles include, The Museum, The Water Princess, Rock ‘N’ Roll Soul and Hey, Wall a Story of Art and Community and Unstoppable Me. Her instant #1 New York Times bestseller I Am Human: A Book of Empathy is part of a bestselling series including I Am Yoga and I Am Peace and the New York Times bestseller I Am Love: A Book of Compassion. Her recent books are Tortoise and Hare and The Tossy-Turny Princess, the latest in the Feel-Good Fairytale series, as well as another in the I Am series, Who I Am: Words I Tell Myself and there are many more to come. Susan’s books continue to inspire children, educators, yoga practitioners and mindful humans alike, helping to cultivate empathy and kindness in all of us.

In addition to writing Susan teaches yoga and mindfulness to kids of all ages.

Susan is currently living by the ocean in East Hampton, New York doing her best as a mother of 3 amazing humans and her menagerie of pets. 

Allie-Alejandra Joyner is the Founder and CEO of Create Curiously and former Director of Innovative Solutions at FableVision Learning, a Peter H. Reynolds company. An educator, curriculum designer, and innovation leader with 20+ years of experience in education, Allie has worked across elementary teaching, literacy intervention, instructional technology, professional learning, curriculum development, and educational innovation.

Through Create Curiously, she collaborates with authors, educators, schools, and organizations to design meaningful learning experiences that connect curiosity, creativity, literacy, art, and student agency. Her work centers on helping educators create environments where students are encouraged to think deeply, ask meaningful questions, express themselves authentically, and make connections across ideas and experiences.

For NYSATA, Allie designed Creating from the Inside Out in collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Susan Verde. The experience brings together the perspectives of an educator and an author to explore mindfulness, storytelling, curiosity, creativity, and practical approaches educators can bring into their own learning communities.