BJ Berquist

BJ Berquist (BJB) is an art teacher at the Loysville Youth Development Center, a residential male juvenile correctional facility in central Pennsylvania. BJ has been involved in many Tapped In activities. She helped plan the Tapped In Civil Rights Forum in May, 1998, has led several discussions at Tapped In, contributed a perspective describing how she uses Tapped In. BJ is also aTapped In Help Desk volunteer and Tapped In Associate Educator.

In November 2001, BJ was awarded the PA Teacher of the Year for Juvenile Correctional Institutions. She was presented with a plaque that reads:

BJ's Resources

• BJ's Backflip web page: Art resources sorted into many different categories.
• BJ's Jigsaw Helper page: Designed to have small group "experts" jigsaw what they learn about the many ways in which we all, as consumers, use the arts and art products every day.

• CreateNow!
• The National Center on Education, Disability and Juvenile Justice
• The Prison Project
• NPR Radio Diaries
• 360degrees
• Correctional Education Association
• Center for the Study of Correctional Education
• The National Council on Disability. The National Council on Disability's (NCD) overall purpose is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.
• The National Center on Education, Disability, and Juvenile Justice. A collaborative research, training, technical assistance and dissemination program designed to develop more effective responses to the needs of youth with disabilities in the juvenile justice system or those at-risk for involvement with the juvenile justice system.
• Corrections Learning Network. The Corrections Learning Network is a distance learning initiative administered by Educational Service District 101 and funded through the U.S. Department of Education. CLN provides, for the nation's correctional facilities, relevant educational life and transition-based broadcasts for the confined audience - youth and adult. CLN also provides over 400 hours per year of staff development for correctional, education and medical personnel.
• Silence Speaks. Multimedia production in support of healing and violence prevention.

BJ's After School Online Sessions

BJ leads several ASO discussions at Tapped In each month:

• ArtSites. This monthly discussion meets to discuss various resources related to art and education. BJ often invites guest speakers to share information.
• Arts and Literacy. This is an interdisciplinary arts discussion group that meets on the first Monday of every month. An international forum open to all arts educators, the discussion topics center around using the Arts to develop literacy.
• Alternative/Correctional Education. This monthly discussion meets to explore the professional development opportunities available to educators who teach in K-12 alternative schools or correctional facilities. Special Ed and Adult Basic Education resources are included.
• WaterCooler Confab: This monthly discussion is designed to help members of Tapped In who are interested in volunteering their time for Tapped In as a HelpDesk volunteer. BJ offers tips on how to greet guests, teaches neat tricks for solving problems, and offers advice on how to answer questions. Our volunteers are very important to us!
• Tapped In Tips and Tours. Twice a week (Tuesdays and Saturdays), BJ leads new members and guests on the Grand Tour. During the hour long session, BJ demonstrates how to use the many features found at TAPPED IN. If you are new to TI, be sure to check one out!