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Brief Bio

      Award-winning author Jason Edwards is a man of many hats – a characteristic that serves him well, as he is able to bring to bear his talents and skills as a scholar, educator, stage performer, coach, and writer to create some unique and distinctive responses to dealing with issues of concern to parents, children, and educators alike.

Jason’s philosophy is not, in and of itself, unique: he believes that CHILDREN LEARN BY DOING.  As a result, he spent years as a teacher, dedicated himself to creating child-centered, interactive lessons.  But the best intentions can be useless unless one is able to put them to use in a practical way, and in this, Jason consistently excels. He has demonstrated a unique gift for applying his creativity to meeting the educational needs of students.   

     For example, several years ago, Jason was called upon by librarians to help them teach library research skills.  Due to cutbacks, many librarians had far less time with students, and yet had more that they were required to teach them.  The traditional way of teaching about how the library is organized, and how to locate book on different subjects, was too time consuming, and for many students, too BORING as well.  In response, Jason created a program in which children would have a grand adventure, but which would slyly teach them library research skills in just one session.  He created the MONSTER HUNT.  In this program, students develop research skills as they are guided through the process of using the library catalog and the Dewey Decimal System to locate books that have hidden clues that will help them track down and capture a lurking monster!  Every participant has a separate set of clues to find – there is never any competing over clues, and so every child succeeds.  In the end, all of the clues are shared, and used to plot the way the the monster’s secret lair.  Once the monster is captured, everyone is rewarded with their very own Monster Detective Badge!  This program has been so successful that Jason has been called upon to perform it at over 100 schools and libraries.

     Similarly, Jason’s books are also sly educational.  His frighteningly funny chapter book Will Allen and the Great Monster Detective, which for all appearances is simply a humorous fantasy/mystery story, actually is designed to help children learn how to overcome irrational fears by modeling, in a non-threatening, non-preachy way, the steps for dealing with anxieties.  It was this, in part, that earned the book the Mom’s Choice Award for Family Friendly Media, as well as an endorsement from the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.

     Jason’s talent for addressing issues to both children and adults alike has earned him wide aclaim, and been featured in various media all across the country including the NY Daily News, Talk of Connecticut radio, the New Jersey Observer, The Arkansas Daily Gazzette, and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Education

Walt Whitman High School, Huntington, NY

Member of the Inaugural Class of the University of Delaware's Freshman Honors Program

Bachelor of Science - New Paltz State College

Master of Arts - Manhattanville College

NYS Permanent Teaching Certification

NYS Athletic Coaching Certification

Skills

Reading, Writing, and 'Rithmatic.

Also, playing and coaching Baseball, Volleyball, and Basketball.  

Tracking and capturing monsters (though I usually need a lot of help from Junior Monster Detectives)

Creating InterACTIVE enrichment programs and just producing general mayhem.

Highlights